Your appointment with the ear, nose and throat (ENT) service

This page explains what you and your child can expect at your ear, nose and throat appointment.

How do I get an appointment?

You and your child will be referred to our service by your GP, hospital doctor, or other health professional.

Changing or cancelling your appointment

If you need to change or cancel your child’s appointment for any reason, please call the main hospital switchboard on 020 7188 4000.

Please tell us as soon as possible so we can offer the appointment to another patient.

Before your appointment

Please bring along your child’s red book (personal child health record) and any other written information about their condition, such as recent test results.  

Please also bring along a list of any medications your child is taking.

During your appointment 

At the appointment, you and your child will be booked in to see a specialist ENT doctor or surgeon. We will ask for information about your child and their medical history. This part of the appointment will last approximately 10-15 minutes.

At the clinic, we will make a thorough assessment of your child. This may include investigations such as hearing tests. You and your child may also see one of our nurses, nurse specialists or another health professional, such as an audiologist or speech therapist. This may add some extra time to your visit.

We make every effort to avoid delays during clinics, however appointments may run late. We offer a specialised service and some of the children we see have complex conditions so their appointments may take longer than usual.

As we are a teaching hospital, students and visitors may be observing the team. We will always ask your permission for them to observe your appointment.

After your appointment

At the end of the appointment, the doctor will explain the nature of your child’s condition and whether any further investigations such as blood tests or scans are needed. We will discuss treatment options with you, including surgery and will give you further information about treatment options.

We will write to the referring doctor to explain what happened at the appointment and what will happen next. We will send a copy of this letter to you, your GP and any other clinicians or healthcare professionals involved in your child’s care. 

The letter will have a contact number if you have any questions.

Earwax removal

To help prepare children for their appointment in the ENT department at Evelina London Children's Hospital we have produced a video showing children attending a wax removal appointment.

The video shows the ENT clinical nurse specialist removing wax with a specially designed wax removal scoop and microscope and suction. Advice regarding care of the ears is also given.