Ear, nose and throat (ENT) surgery in Nottingham

Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) is a specialised area of medicine involved with the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of problems in the ear, nose and throat, facial plastic surgery, and frequently problems involving the brain. A doctor who specialises in this area is a Consultant ENT Surgeon.

Some ENT doctors will also treat children with ENT problems. [Although we are not currently seeing paediatric patients at The Park Hospital, many of the consultants who work here are experts in paediatric ENT and able to see these cases in other locations. Please enquire directly with the Surgeon’s admin team.]

People from across Nottinghamshire and the surrounding counties visit The Park Hospital for help with a number of symptoms, including:

Ears

• Decreased hearing
• Ear wax problems / waxy ears (for microsuction / ear syringing)
• Hearing implants or hearing aids
• Noises in the ears (tinnitus)
• Discharge from the ears
• Ear infections
• Dizziness or balance problems
• Blocked ears
• Pain in the ears
• ‘Lumps and bumps’ around the ear
• Hole in the eardrum

Nose

• Blocked nose
• Runny nose
• Nosebleeds
• Post nasal drip
• Difficulty breathing through one or both nostrils
• Reduction in sense of smell
• Snoring
• Allergies/hay fever
• Facial pain – sometimes caused by sinus problems
• Nasal polyps
• Nasal injury
• Deviated nasal septum
• To have the nose reshaped (nose job / rhinoplasty)

Throat/Neck

• Sore throats
• Tonsilitis -may be recurrent
• Difficulty eating or drinking
• Hoarse voice
• Sensation of something stuck in the throat
• Reflux causing symptoms in the throat
• Snoring complaints
• Sleep apnoea
• Lump or swelling in the neck
• Swelling or blockage of the salivary glands
• Catarrh or post-nasal drip
• Dry mouth
• Thyroid lumps and bumps, including enlarged thyroid
• Tongue tie

Plastic Surgery / Facial Plastics

• To have the nose reshaped (nose job / rhinoplasty)
• To correct protruding (or bat shaped) ears

The leading Consultant ENT Surgeons who work here provide expert assessment, diagnosis and treatment for any of these concerns. They would be absolutely delighted to help you too.

A range of ENT services is available on-site, from minor procedures to incredibly complex surgery.

If you’re concerned about possible hearing loss, a hearing test will be arranged for you with an audiologist. This is carried out on the same day of your appointment*, to save you having to make an additional hospital visit.

*Please review your preferred consultant’s profile to see if they treat your condition and if same day hearing tests / audiology services are offered. Some ear complaints require a hearing test to help with the diagnosis.

Infections in the ear are often treated with eardrops and cleaning out of the ear with specialised equipment and a microscope.

If a build-up of fluid in your ear (glue ear) is causing your hearing loss, grommets may be a good treatment choice. Grommets are small plastic or metal tubes that are inserted into the ear to allow the fluid to drain.

A perforated eardrum often heals without the need for any treatment. If the hole is particularly large or does not close on its own, surgery with a graft may be needed. This is known as a myringoplasty procedure.

If somebody suffers from ear blockage, popping ears or fluid in the ear, Balloon Eustachian Tuboplasty can also be very helpful. This is a new technique which some of our surgeons offer and can sometimes be better than grommets. You can check if your surgeon offers this procedure.

Some tonsil problems may require a tonsillectomy (surgical removal of the tonsils).

Long-term or recurring nasal blockage can be treated with Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (FESS) and/or Nasal Polypectomy (removal of polyps).

If a deviated septum (the bone and cartilage separating the two nostrils) is causing nasal blockage, a Septoplasty can be carried out to straighten it and restore normal breathing through the nose.

The above examples show only a very small number of treatments available from the ENT Surgeons at The Park Hospital. They can carry out a very wide range of treatments (surgical and non-surgical) to treat and correct many disorders and dysfunctions of the ear, nose and throat.

It’s important to know that treatment is never ‘one size fits all’. Your consultant will always tailor treatment to your specific requirements so that you will receive the best result possible.

When you first meet with your Consultant ENT Surgeon, they will take your medical history and ask you about your symptoms. They will want to know:

• What symptoms you have
• How long you have had these symptoms
• Whether you have tried any treatment(s) already
• Whether you have any specific concerns about your symptoms (for example, are you worried that a lump that’s recently appeared in your neck may be some type of cancer?)

Your consultant will carry out a clinical examination of the affected area(s) and may use handheld instruments to help with diagnosis.

An otoscope and or microscope will be used to examine inside the ears.

The nose and throat are often best examined with endoscopy. An endoscope is a small, thin tube with a camera and light at one end. It delivers a real time video feed to an external monitor which you can also see.

A nasal/throat endoscopy involves passing the endoscope up the nose and into the back of your throat and to your voice box. Your consultant is able to carefully examine the structure and appearance of the nose and throat as the endoscope is moved along it, and they will look for any abnormalities, such as a blockage, lump or swelling.

For problems with your throat and larynx (voice box) or with swallowing in general, a laryngoscopy or pharyngoscopy can also be carried out with endoscopy.

Further investigations may sometimes be required, such as a CT or MRI scan of the sinuses, neck or ears. We have comprehensive diagnostic capabilities on-site, including X-ray, CT, MRI and ultrasound, all of which can be quickly and easily arranged if needed. A team of expert consultant radiologists provide rapid reporting of any diagnostic test, so your consultant will have the results back quickly.

For some symptoms or conditions, a biopsy (removal of a sample of tissue) may be needed. The sample is then sent for examination under a microscope. Depending on where the biopsy needs to be carried out, ultrasound guidance may be used.

Once the results of any investigations are back, your consultant will discuss them with you and talk through treatment options. Treatment will always be tailored to your specific needs and may include:

• Watchful waiting
• Medication
• Surgery

As the longest established private hospital in the area, The Park Hospital is very well known and has a good reputation, built up over many years of serving the people of Nottinghamshire.

Whether you’ve been referred to us by your GP, another consultant, your private insurance provider or a family member, we would be delighted to help investigate your symptoms and arrange suitable treatment for you as soon as possible.

We treat private medical insurance and self-pay patients.

Choosing to have your ENT treatment at The Park Hospital provides you with a number of benefits:

• Access to leading experts, FAST – The Consultant ENT Surgeons working in the hospital are vastly experienced. With many of them sub-specialising in specific areas of ENT, you will always be able to see the most appropriate person for your specific condition.
  
  
• State-of-the-art facilities and technology – With the on-site ENT facilities upgraded in 2021, you will have access to the very latest equipment and technologies. Critical care beds in the hospital provide the reassurance you need when having complex ENT surgery that you won’t be transferred to another hospital. All your needs can be safely met here.
  
  
• Rapid access to treatment – Most minor procedures, such as a nasal or throat endoscopy/camera tests, will be done on the same day as your initial consultation.
  
  
• Convenient appointments – With ENT appointments available throughout the week, you will be able to book a time that fits your schedule. We also offer remote consultations by telephone or video call if required (and where clinically appropriate).
  
  
• A multidisciplinary team – Your Consultant ENT Surgeon is supported by a wider healthcare team, including nurses, audiologists, anaesthetists, oncologists and radiologists. Fast, simple access to this multidisciplinary team means you will always receive help from the most appropriate specialist for your particular needs at all times.
  
  
• Recommended by patients – In an independent survey, 98.4% of people we treated said they were likely or highly likely to recommend us to their friends and family.

If you’re concerned about any symptoms in your ear, nose or throat, book a consultation online today with one of our ENT specialists.

We look forward to welcoming you to The Park Hospital soon.