Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) Surgery

The Northern Health Ear, Nose and Throat Surgery unit provides a targeted service to the needs of the Northern Health community, with a strong emphasis on services to the children and adolescent population, as well as adults. We have strong relationships with both regional health services such as Kilmore Health, as well as quaternary referral services for more complex care, which enables us to provide both timely care, and a full range of ENT services.

What to expect from the service?

Outpatient Referral Process

You will be notified when your referral is received by outpatients.
You will be contacted if further information is required.
The referral is triaged by the doctors according to clinical urgency. This determines how long you will wait for an appointment.
Patients with urgent conditions are seen as soon as possible.
Patients with routine conditions are given appointments according to clinical need and clinic demand. Please note that waiting times are currently more than two years long for non- urgent patients.
You will be seen by an ENT surgeon in our outpatient clinic, who will assess your problem, and arrange treatment for it. This may involve surgery (to be performed at a later date), medication, lifestyle changes, or referral to another group of doctors or health practitioners.

Appointment information

How to refer:

A referral is required. Please visit your GP Clinic and have them fax/mail a referral to us.

What to bring:

A written list of any questions that you have.A list of all medications, allergies and previous health issues that you have had
Any blood tests you have had done
A physical copy of any XRays you’ve had done. You can have these printed/loaded onto a CD at the Radiology service where you had them done. It is your responsibility to bring these with you – do not assume that if they are sent to your doctor, or sent to us on your behalf, that we will get them. Bring them with you to your appointment.
Copies of any hearing tests you have had done – get these from your audiology service.
A written list of any questions that you have.A list of all medications, allergies and previous health issues that you have had

ENT Referral Criteria:

For conditions in ADULTS outlined below, please refer to the Victoria Statewide Referral Criteria for Specialist Clinics: https://src.health.vic.gov.au/specialities for detailed referral criteria and required supporting information.

Acute nasal fracture
Bilateral or asymmetrical hearing loss
Discharging ear
Dysphagia (ENT)
Hoarse voice (dysphonia)
Neck mass or lumps
Obstructive sleep apnoea
Recurrent tonsillitis
Rhinosinusitis
Salivary gland disorder or mass
Thyroid mass
Tinnitus
Vertigo (ENT)

For all other ENT conditions (including Paediatric referrals) please continue to refer as per clinical assessment and need.

For a comprehensive suite of clinical pathways, including detailed referral criteria and required supporting information, please refer to Healthpathways Melbourne – ENT

To ensure safe, timely access to Northern Health, in addition to specific speciality referral criteria guidelines, all referrals must contain the requested minimum referral information.

Conditions not seen by Northern Health ENT Service

Tinnitus (unless other clinical details with appropriate supporting documents attached)
Vertigo/dizziness to Healthpathways or direct to Royal Eye and Ear Hospital (RVEEH Vestibular Clinic)
Any ear symptoms referred without an audiogram
Cosmetic Rhinoplasty
Adults referred for snoring or obstructive sleep apnoea should be directed to Respiratory Medicine Service

ENT Surgical Treatments offered at Northern Health

Surgical Treatments

Children’s ENT surgery (‘paediatric ENT surgery’), including:

Grommets/ear ventilation tubes
Tonsil surgery
Adenoid surgery
Airway and voice assessment

Nasal/nose surgery, including

Septoplasty
Turbinate reduction
Sinus surgery
Rhinoplasty to relieve nasal blockage/obstruction

Throat surgery, including:

Tonsillectomy and adenoid surgery
Voice box (‘larynx’) surgery
Mouth lumps and ulcers

Neck surgery, including

Saliva gland surgery (parotid, submandibular glands)
Thyroid surgery
Lymph node surgery
Neck lumps (biopsy and treatment)

Snoring and Sleep Apnoea treatment and surgery

Ear surgery, including:

Grommets/ear ventilation tubes
Ear drum hole repair (‘myringoplasty’)
Mastoid surgery

Non-surgical Services

ENT Cancer assessment and treatment
Hay fever and other nasal allergies
Blocked nose
Snotty nose
Sinus disease
Swallowing problems
Voice problems
Throat symptoms
Chronic cough
Eustachian tube dysfunction
Hearing problems
Vocal fold checks prior to thyroid/parathyroid surgery

How to Refer:

GP referrals: Use HealthLink to send referrals, results and reports. For more information click here
Other health services (hospitals, allied health, specialists etc.): Fax your referral to 8405 8616.
Urgent referrals can be made direct to the on-call ENT Registrar via the Northern Hospital switchboard: 8405 8000

Minimum Referral Information

To ensure safe, timely access to Northern Health, all referrals must contain the minimum referral information.

*Please note: if a referral fails to meet the minimum referral information it will be declined with written notification to referring health professional and patient.