These symptoms are “red flags” which require urgent referral in adult patients:

            * Persistent hoarse voice for more than six weeks

            * Unexplained lump in the neck for more than eight weeks

            * Recent onset difficulty swallowing solids

            * Ulceration within the throat or mouth for more than six weeks

(please note: this list is not exhaustive nor prescriptive, it is just an approximate guideline for the more common ENT tumours.  Clinical suspicion of malignancy is higher in smokers.)

Routine Referrals

* A thyroid function test is helpful when referring patients with snoring problems or suspected thyroid disease. Other than that, there aren’t any other tests required before referral.

* To download a copy of our ENT referral guidelines, please click here