Islington's Community Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) service provides specialist ENT services to the Islington population at community-based clinic locations.

Staffed by GPs with a special interest in ENT, the clinics can provide straightforward services and procedures, such as audiology and telescopic examination of the throat and nasal passages. If a patient requires surgery, the service will triage the referral and, if necessary, hand back to the referring practice with advice.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusions

Aged 16+ and registered with an Islington GP practice presenting with any of the following conditions:      

• epistaxis (including recurrent)
• globus, chronic superative otitis media, rhinitis, nasal polyps
• foreign body in the ear
• sinusitis (chronic)
• snoring
• tinnitus
• vertigo
• nasal obstruction
• persistent otalgia
• persistent ear discharge
• unilateral deafness (if sudden onset and not due to wax or infection, patient must attend A&E)
• bilateral deafness in under-50s.

Exclusions

• septal perforation
• patients requiring emergency treatment should be referred to the appropriate service
  • sudden onset deafness
  • hearing loss not due to wax or infection
• patients requiring an assessment or treatment by a secondary care service will be triaged by the service and, if necessary, handed back to the referring practice with advice
  • neck lump
  • hoarseness
  • dysphagia
  • glue ear
  • suspected cancer (should a suspected cancer be found during a routine appointment, the service shall discuss with the patient and urgently contact the referrer who will refer onwards)
  • foreign bodies in the nose
  • bilateral deafness in over-50s (refer to direct access audiology)
• domiciliary visits
• suspected cancer referrals (GP to refer under a two-week wait).

How to Refer

Locations

Bingfield Primary Care Centre

Islington Central Medical Centre

Hornsey Rise Health Centre