title: Audit of GP Referrals for Tonsillectomy to the ENT Clinic Using Present HIQA Guidelines.
abstract: Recurrent sore throat for possible tonsillectomy is the commonest clinical entity referred to the ENT outpatient department. The numbers involved represent a large clinical burden on the service. Not all of these patients require surgical intervention. Patients who fit the criteria for tonsillectomy are faced with two stage obstacles; the long waiting time until assessed by the Otolaryngologist at OPD and the time spent on long operative waiting lists. The aim of this study was to analyze the percentage of referred patients with sore throats requiring tonsillectomy versus those not needing surgery, using the present HIQA guidelines for this operation.
authors.affiliation: Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery Department, Tallaght Hospital, Dublin 24.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hasan
authors.affiliation: Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery Department, Tallaght Hospital, Dublin 24.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: O'Riordan
authors.affiliation: Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery Department, Tallaght Hospital, Dublin 24.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kinsella
authors.affiliation: Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery Department, Tallaght Hospital, Dublin 24.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: McShane
mesh_terms: D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D006801:Humans; D008485:Medical Audit; D010612:Pharyngitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D012008:Recurrence; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013997:Time Factors; D014068:Tonsillectomy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014850:Waiting Lists