For GPs, audiologists and health professionals
Referral pathways for ear, hearing, balance and children’s ENT problems, with a clinic letter within days of each appointment and clear advice for primary care.
How to refer
Three ways to refer, one letter back
01
Send the referral
Letter and any audiograms or imaging by secure email to [email address], or through the hospital’s private patient team.
02
Appointment within days
The practice contacts the patient directly to book. Insured patients are reminded to obtain authorisation first.
03
Clinic letter
A letter to you and the patient within days, with a plan and any onward referral.
Urgent referrals
Sudden hearing loss is a 72-hour window
Unilateral sensorineural hearing loss within the last fortnight should be seen the same day for a hearing test and steroid treatment. Mr Vithlani is principal investigator for the STARFISH trial on exactly this problem.
What to include
Reason for referral, duration and side of symptoms, relevant history and medicines, any audiogram, tympanogram or imaging, and for children: speech, sleep and school concerns.
Advice and guidance
A quick route for questions: whether an audiogram pattern needs imaging, when a discharging ear needs microsuction, or whether a child needs to be seen.
Who is suitable
Adults and children with hearing loss, ear infections, perforations, cholesteatoma, otosclerosis, tinnitus, vertigo, facial nerve weakness, tonsil, adenoid and sleep-disordered breathing problems, and hearing implant candidates.
Treatments
What you can refer for
For severe–profound hearing loss when hearing aids are no longer enough. Mr Vithlani is a surgeon with the University of Southampton Auditory Implant Service.
About this treatment
Percutaneous and transcutaneous implants for conductive or single-sided hearing loss.
About this treatment
Candidacy assessment, imaging and an honest discussion of benefit, limits and alternatives.
About this treatment
Closing a perforation to stop infection and improve hearing.
About this treatment
Clearing cholesteatoma and chronic infection from the mastoid bone.
About this treatment
Rebuilding the three tiny hearing bones after infection or injury.
About this treatment
Refer a patient
Secure email [email address] · phone [phone number]. Letters back within days.