Otolaryngology Unit

The University of Edinburgh Academic Otolaryngology Unit is based in the Lauriston Building.  The department serves a population of approximately 1.1 million as a tertiary referral service for South East Scotland.  In addition to general Ear Nose and Throat services the department offers advanced paediatric, head and neck cancer, skull base and hearing implant services.  Outpatient services are provided in central Edinburgh (Lauriston Buildings and royal Hospital for Sick Children) and in St John’s Hospital, Livingston as well as in Roodlands Hospital in East Lothian.  All adult in patient operating is performed at the St Johns Hospital Site with paediatric operations performed both in St Johns and in the Royal Hospital for Sick Children. The department not only offers a clinical service but also conducts clinical research, provides clinical training for all grades of doctors in training and has an undergraduate medical education program for 5th year medical students from Edinburgh University. 

Subspecialty Departments

Head and Neck 

The head and neck service takes referrals from Lothian, Borders, Dumfries and Fife.  Between 4 fellowship trained substantive consultants, all aspects of head and neck surgical oncology are offered.  Open ablative head and neck procedures, transoral laryngeal and pharyngeal resections, salivary, thyroid and skull base procedures are all undertaken with full reconstructive support as required.  Specialist clinics in oncology (including a research oncology clinic), voice, dysplasia and a neck lump service in conjunction with radiologists are offered. 

The unit provides surgical training for the East of Scotland rotation and offers fellowship training both for standard clinical fellows and on the program for the Global Online Fellowship for Head and Neck Surgery as offered by the International Federation of Head and Neck Oncological Societies. 

Team Members