Directorate of ENT (Otolaryngology) and Head and Neck Surgery

The unit provides high quality care to a local population of 530,000. The ENT department provides comprehensive service of all the ENT subspecialties (otology, rhinology, paediatric and laryngology). In addition we are a multidisciplinary recognised oncology service for head and neck, thyroid and skin cancer

The ENT department consists of five ENT consultant surgeons, three middle grade doctors, two international M.Ch. trainees and a specialist doctor. Surgery is predominately undertaken in the Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital (including inpatient facilities) but uncomplicated paediatric day-case surgery and some elective adult day-case surgery is undertaken in Burnley General Teaching Hospital. Out Patient Department clinics are based in Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital and St Peter’s centre in Burnley.

Approved NICE national guidelines are used for most common ENT conditions such as tonsillitis, and grommets. BAETS, BAHNO and ENT-UK guidelines are implemented for management of head and neck and thyroid cancers. Innovative approaches to the management of suspicious neck masses have been developed with a ‘state of art’ one-stop neck lump clinic. ‘State of the art’ surgical equipment and techniques are routinely used, including trans-oral lasers and robotic surgery (TORS).

The ENT department has established clinical multidisciplinary links with multiple local and regional departments including:

• Oncology
• Audiology
• Radiology
• Speech and language therapy (SALT)
• Dieticians
• McMillan nurses
• Cytology
• Ophthalmology
• Haematology
• Endocrinology

Educationally there are strong links with the Edge Hill University post-graduate teaching programme, specifically the M.Ch. course. Several consultants on the unit are honorary senior lectures of the University. ENT consultants are regular faculty members in regional and national education events including the annual ’Wrightington cadaveric dissection course’. Several consultants are regular panel members in the national ST3 selection committee. Several consultants are Intercollegiate Diploma in Otolaryngology, head and neck surgery DOHNS) examiners

Routinely performed procedures include:

• Major Head and Neck Cancer including flap reconstruction
• Thyroid and parathyroid surgery
• Trans-oral laser surgery and Trans-oral robotic surgery (in development)
• Mastoidectomy
• Stapedectomy
• Surgical treatment of dizziness
• Skin cancer resection and reconstruction
• Cosmetic facial surgery (septorhinoplasty, pinnaplasty…etc.)
• FESS surgery
• DRC surgery