A postal survey of 500 general practitioners (GPs) in south-west England was undertaken to evaluate the levels of undergraduate and postgraduate otolaryngology training and/or experience received by GPs in that area. Most GPs had received two weeks of undergraduate training in ENT, which had involved no formal assessment. Three-quarters of GPs considered this inadequate. A quarter of GPs had completed a hospital post in ENT prior to entering general practice, most of which lasted three months. Sixty-one per cent of GPs had received some formal postgraduate training in ENT, in the form of courses, lectures or hospital training sessions. Almost half of the GPs considered this inadequate. Seventy-five per cent of GPs stated they would like further training in ENT. Subjective estimates of referral rates to hospital ENT specialist clinics varied considerably.

This study illustrates the variability and level of dissatisfaction regarding ENT training amongst GPs at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

Referral rates from individual partners within two demographically matched general practices to the local ENT service were gathered prospectively over a six-year period. The study was designed to determine if extra training in one practice altered these rates. A single partner from one practice attended otolaryngology clinics for regular training over a three-year period. This was funded by the local Family Practitioners’ Committee. The funding enabled a locum to cover this partner’s clinical commitment whilst he attended the specialist clinics for continued ENT training. The aim of this study was to identify whether the provision of continued ENT training and education to general practitioners (GPs) influenced referral patterns to specialist clinics.