Referral

Back
Policies Toggle Pages
Abdominal hernia in adults Adult Snoring Surgery (in the absence of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea) Arthroscopic shoulder decompression for subacromial shoulder pain Arthroscopic surgery for meniscal tears Artificial urinary sphincters for post-prostatectomy incontinence Assisted Conception Benign Skin and Subcutaneous Lesions Commissioning Policy Blepharoplasty (upper and lower lid) including brow lift Botulinum Toxin A for the management of focal hyperhidrosis Breast implants - removal and replacement Breast reduction surgery Carpal tunnel syndrome (surgery) Cataract Surgery Chronic rhinosinusitis with or without polyps Circumcision Cosmetic Treatments Cryopreservation to Preserve Fertility Dilatation and curettage for heavy menstrual bleeding in women Dupuytren's contracture treatment Ear Wax Removal Femoro–Acetabular Impingement, open or arthroscopic surgery Fusion surgery for non-specific, mechanical back pain Haemorrhoids in adults Hallux Valgus (Bunion) - Commissioned pathway Heavy Menstrual Bleeding - Referral for Surgical Management Hip and knee replacement surgery in obese patients (those with a body mass index of 30 or greater) Individual Funding Requests (IFRs) Injections for non-specific low back pain without sciatica Knee arthroscopy for patients with osteoarthritis Lumbar spine procedures – for simple lumber back pain Meibomian cysts (chalazia) Myringotomy/grommets with or without adjuvant adenoidectomy for the management of otitis media in children under 12 years Myringotomy with and without grommets in adults and children aged 12 years+ Open Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Scanning Radiofrequency Denervation Reversal of male and female sterilisation Spinal injections for sciatica Surgery for ganglion cyst Surgical procedures for the treatment of LUTS caused by BPH Tonsillectomy Trigger finger release in adults Varicose vein referral
Print this page
Contact us about this page

Myringotomy with and without grommets in adults and children aged 12 years+

Scope

This is a summary of the NHS Devon commissioning policy for Myringotomy with or without ventilation tubes (grommets) in adults and children aged 12 years and older

Myringotomy with or without ventilation tubes (grommets) in adults and children aged 12 years and older commissioning policy

Out of scope

Children under 12 years – see Myringotomy/grommets with or without adjuvant adenoidectomy for the management of otitis media in children under 12 years

Toggle all

Referral Criteria

Myringotomy with or without ventilation tubes (grommets) will only be funded if the following criteria are met:

Persistent otitis media with effusion (OME) – There has been a period of at least three months watchful waiting* from the date of diagnosis of OME (by GP/primary care referrer/audiologist/ENT surgeon)and OME persists after three months and the patient suffers from persistent bilateral OME with a hearing level in the better ear of 25 dBHL (averaged at 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz) or worse, confirmed at three months†.
or
To aid intratympanic administration of medicines
or
Where middle ear ventilation is an essential feature of specialist investigation for, or management of:

  • underlying malignancy
  • acute or chronic otitis media with complications: facial palsy or intracranial infection e.g. meningitis

*During the watchful waiting period, advice on lifestyle modifications such as stopping smoking (and if appropriate advice on educational and behavioural strategies to minimise the effects of hearing loss) should be offered. The patient's hearing should be re-tested at the end of this time.

†Good practice point: ensure OME has not resolved once a date of surgery has been agreed, with tympanometry as a minimum

Click on the link for the complete commissioning policy for Myringotomy with or without ventilation tubes (grommets) in adults and children aged 12 years and older

Referral Instructions

Where the circumstances of treatment for an individual patient do not meet the criteria described above exceptional funding can be sought. Individual cases will be reviewed by the appropriate panel of NHS Devon upon receipt of a completed application from the patient's GP, consultant or clinician. Applications cannot be considered from patients personally.

Applications for consideration for funding approval should be sent to:

Email: d-icb.ifr-newsdt@nhs.net

Publication date: 28 October 2019

Back to Top