• Reference Number: HEY-1362-2023
• Departments:
• Last Updated: 1 May 2023

Introduction

This advice sheet has been produced to give you information following your ENT surgical procedure. It is not intended to replace the discussion between you and your doctor. If after reading it you require further explanation, please discuss this with the relevant person who has been caring for you.

Your Consultant is………………………………………………………………………….

Your Surgeon is…………………………………………………………………………….

 Should you need any further help or advice, please telephone the Day Surgery Centre, Monday to Friday 08:00 hours to 18:00 hours.

Telephone: Day Surgery Centre (01482) 468103 / 468173 /468174.  Please ask to speak to a member of the nursing staff.

At other times please call, Telephone: 01482 875875 and ask for Ward 16 Castle Hill Hospital.

Today you have had……………………………………………………………………….

 Special Instructions: 

Bleeding and Discharge

 It is not unusual for a bloodstained discharge to occur for 2-3 days after the operation.

If the discharge becomes excessive, yellow or you have increasing pain you should see your GP as an infection may be present.

Pain

You may experience some mild pain following your procedure and this is not unusual. If you do experience pain we recommend for the first 24 – 48 hour period you take a regular pain relief medication such as Paracetamol or Ibuprofen.

Do not take Aspirin.

(Ibuprofen may not be suitable for Asthmatics)

Work

Your surgeon will be able to advise you on your return to work.

Follow up

If an appointment is required it will be sent though the post.

Swimming and hair washing

During hair washing a small piece of cotton wool dipped in Vaseline will prevent water entering the ear.

The cotton wool should not be pushed right into the ear, but be placed into the ear so that it is still visible.

You will be able to go swimming but diving and jumping into the water and swimming under water should be avoided. If water gets into the middle ear it can be painful and may cause an infection.

After your operation

Should you need to visit your doctor with a problem related to the operation within three weeks of the surgery, we would appreciate you contacting the Day Surgery Centre, Telephone: (01482) 468103 / 468173 /468174.  Please ask to speak to one of the nursing staff.

The Day Surgery Centre is continually striving to improve Patient information and we would be pleased to hear from you should you have any comments.

Should you require further advice on the issues contained in this advice sheet, please do not hesitate to contact the Day Surgery Centre.

This leaflet was produced by the Day Surgery Department, Castle Hill Hospital, Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and will be reviewed in May 2026

General Advice and Consent

Most of your questions should have been answered by this leaflet, but remember that this is only a starting point for discussion with the healthcare team.

Consent to treatment

Before any doctor, nurse or therapist examines or treats you, they must seek your consent or permission. In order to make a decision, you need to have information from health professionals about the treatment or investigation which is being offered to you. You should always ask them more questions if you do not understand or if you want more information.

The information you receive should be about your condition, the alternatives available to you, and whether it carries risks as well as the benefits. What is important is that your consent is genuine or valid. That means:

• you must be able to give your consent
• you must be given enough information to enable you to make a decision
• you must be acting under your own free will and not under the strong influence of another person

Information about you

We collect and use your information to provide you with care and treatment. As part of your care, information about you will be shared between members of a healthcare team, some of whom you may not meet. Your information may also be used to help train staff, to check the quality of our care, to manage and plan the health service, and to help with research. Wherever possible we use anonymous data.

We may pass on relevant information to other health organisations that provide you with care. All information is treated as strictly confidential and is not given to anyone who does not need it. If you have any concerns please ask your doctor, or the person caring for you.

Under the General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018 we are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of any information we hold about you. For further information visit the following page: Confidential Information about You.

If you or your carer needs information about your health and wellbeing and about your care and treatment in a different format, such as large print, braille or audio, due to disability, impairment or sensory loss, please advise a member of staff and this can be arranged.