Otolaryngology is the diagnosis and management of ear, nose and throat conditions. It is a broad specialty, encompassing both paediatric and adult patients in a spectrum of presentations, ranging from mild to moribund.
ENT can be a very challenging environment to work in, particularly when managing an airway emergency. Intricate anatomy means that surgery in all areas of the specialty is complex. Examination is specialised, using multiple gadgets, meaning junior doctors get hands-on practical experience early on in their careers.
Technical advances make ENT an exciting field to work in, with advances in robotic surgery, for example. It often involves being part of a team, with a number of closely linked allied specialties, including audiology, speech and language specialists, neurology, neurosurgery, oncology, plastic surgery, maxillofacial surgery, respiratory, rheumatology, allergy, genetics, paediatrics and specialist nursing.
Timetables include exposure to:
- outpatient clinics, including sub-specialty clinics
- theatre sessions
- 24-hour non-resident on-call
- multi-disciplinary and departmental meetings to encompass the full otolaryngology curriculum
Placements are usually for a year at a time, rotating through the hospitals in the region. Specialty training runs between ST3 and ST8. Additionally, study days are run monthly throughout the year, including a temporal bone simulation course.
Participation in audit and research is encouraged and supported.
Trainees are encouraged to attend BACO and RSM meetings in the both the Laryngology and Rhinology section and Otology sections.