Private ENT in Birmingham: ear, nose and throat services compared

The Harborne Hospital says its ENT department diagnoses and treats a wide range of conditions: hearing loss, ear infections, nasal blockage, sinus problems, balance disorders, tinnitus, a deviated septum, thyroid conditions and changes to the voice.

It lists on-site diagnostics that many ENT clinics rely on: hearing tests, nasendoscopy (a thin flexible camera passed through the nose to inspect the nose and throat), balance assessments, allergy testing, CT and MRI. The hospital says results typically arrive within 48 hours and that next-day appointments are available, which is a statement of how it aims to work rather than a guarantee for every patient.

Surgery on its list is broad. It includes repair of a perforated eardrum, cochlear implants, ear reconstruction, rhinoplasty and septorhinoplasty, removal of nasal polyps, functional endoscopic sinus surgery, balloon sinuplasty, grommets, laryngectomy, thyroid surgery and interventional sialography. The page says six ENT consultants work in the department and that there are four theatres and six Level 3 intensive care beds on site.

Spire Parkway lists ENT as one of its treatment areas and names a set of common operations: balloon sinuplasty for chronic sinusitis, septoplasty to straighten a deviated septum, functional endoscopic sinus surgery, Eustachian tube balloon dilatation, grommets for glue ear, ear pinning, and removal of tonsils and adenoids in both children and adults.

The pages we read did not describe a hearing or balance clinic at Spire Parkway, nor did they list allergy testing, so if you need audiology or a vestibular assessment ask whether it is offered there or elsewhere. Patients are pointed to its online consultant search to find an ENT specialist, and virtual consultations are mentioned for some appointments.

The hospital is on Damson Parkway in Solihull. From the M42 the route is the A41 Solihull bypass and a right turn into Yew Tree Lane, and the stations at Birmingham International and Solihull are each about ten minutes away by taxi.

NHS ENT care is arranged through NHS Birmingham and Solihull ICB. University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust runs Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, Heartlands, Good Hope and Solihull Hospital; we could not confirm from the trust's website which of those sites hosts which ENT clinics, so rely on the hospital named in your referral.

In England, a GP referral entitles you to choose among providers with an NHS contract and to the 18-week standard for non-urgent consultant-led care. Glue ear, recurrent tonsillitis and chronic sinusitis are common reasons for referral; the NHS My Planned Care website lets you compare typical waits by postcode if timing is a concern.

Children with suspected glue ear are usually assessed with a hearing test first, and the decision about grommets takes account of how long fluid has been present and how much it affects hearing and speech development.

Chronic sinusitis, where facial pressure and a blocked or runny nose continue for twelve weeks or more, is usually treated with nasal sprays and rinses first. Surgery such as balloon sinuplasty or endoscopic sinus surgery is considered when medical treatment has not helped; a CT scan maps the sinuses beforehand.

A deviated septum can cause one-sided blockage, noisy breathing and repeated nosebleeds. Septoplasty straightens the cartilage and bone, and combined work on the nose and septum is called septorhinoplasty.

Tonsil removal is usually discussed after repeated, well-documented episodes of tonsillitis or for breathing problems at night in children. Glue ear in children and sometimes adults is treated by watchful waiting, hearing aids or grommets, small tubes placed in the eardrum.

Tinnitus and balance problems need individual assessment, as the causes are varied; hearing tests and, where indicated, scans help rule out less common problems.

The Harborne Hospital is on Mindelsohn Way, Birmingham B15 2TQ. It is a five-minute walk from University station, offers free parking in Car Park 2 on Wolfson Drive, and has an entrance bay for drop-offs. If you will have sedation or a general anaesthetic, plan to be collected by a responsible adult.

Because ENT procedures such as sinus surgery can leave you with nasal packing or a sore throat, arrange comfortable travel home rather than public transport on the same day, and check the hospital's own discharge advice.

• Ask if the audiologist or nasendoscopy is part of the first consultation or a separate visit.

• Ask whether a CT scan for sinus problems can be done on site on the same day.

• Ask about the written estimate: consultation, tests, theatre, anaesthetist and follow-up appointments.

• Ask how results will reach you and your GP.

The Harborne Hospital states that insured patients need a GP referral and an insurer authorisation code, and that self-pay patients receive a clear quote. Spire Parkway states it accepts self-pay, insured and NHS patients and publishes a consultant search tool.

Specialist lists and services change, and this page recommends no provider; confirm everything with the hospital before you travel.