Paediatric Ear, Nose and Throat
Royal Manchester Children's Hospital
Paediatric Ear, Nose and Throat at Royal Manchester Children's Hospital
The Department of Paediatric Otolaryngology at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital provides secondary and regional tertiary ENT care for children from birth to adolescence. The service is based within a major children’s hospital environment and offers exposure to emergency, outpatient, inpatient, theatre and multidisciplinary models of paediatric ENT care.
The department hosts specialist clinics and pathways including facial nerve palsy, congenital ear atresia and microtia, joint ENT/allergy care, implantation otology, mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) and airway clinics. This creates a strong learning environment for internationally trained doctors seeking supervised experience in both common paediatric ENT presentations and complex tertiary referrals.
The service works closely with paediatric medical and surgical specialties and allied health professionals, including audiology, speech and language therapy, specialist nursing, pharmacy, dietetics and physiotherapy.
Fellowships and observerships at Manchester Specialist Health Academy provide international clinicians with structured opportunities to experience high quality healthcare training within a leading NHS environment. Both pathways offer consultant oversight, a clear induction, and access to modern clinical settings that support a strong understanding of advanced patient care. Participants are welcomed into a professional community that encourages learning, collaboration, and engagement with the culture of Manchester.
While fellows take part in more in depth clinical development, gaining exposure to subspecialties, procedures and research, observers focus on shadowing and understanding multidisciplinary practice within NHS services. Both groups benefit from involvement in clinics, team discussions, and wider learning activities such as simulation sessions, CPD opportunities, and quality improvement insight.
Academic contributions and awards
Smart solutions: optimising paediatric ear and hearing care using teleotology (Journal of Laryngology & Otology, 2025)
‘Real-life’ benefit of hearing preservation cochlear implantation in the paediatric population: a single-site case-control study (BMJ Open, 2023)
Rare and complex cases
- Complex airway assessment and management, including children reviewed through specialist airway clinics and those requiring coordinated ENT, anaesthetic, respiratory and critical care input.
- Implantation otology and complex hearing pathways, including cochlear and bone conduction implant-related care and multidisciplinary audiology working.
- Mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) related ENT disease, including airway, hearing and upper aerodigestive considerations in children with rare metabolic disorders.
- Congenital ear atresia and microtia, including assessment, longitudinal planning and collaboration with audiology and reconstructive services.
- Facial nerve palsy pathways, including specialist assessment and coordinated multidisciplinary care.
- Children with multiple comorbidities, where ENT plans intersect with respiratory medicine, neurology, genetics, gastroenterology, cardiology, oncology/haematology, PICU, burns and plastics, paediatric surgery and allied health services.
Why Manchester?
Manchester is a city of innovation and progress, renowned as the world’s first industrial city and still leading in science, healthcare, and technology. With excellent transport links and a vibrant, multicultural atmosphere, it offers an inclusive environment for learning and professional growth.
Beyond your placement, Manchester offers something for everyone - from watching the iconic Manchester derby to exploring world-class museums and galleries. With vibrant music, sport, and culture, the city truly has it all. Combining heritage and modernity, it creates a unique setting for personal enrichment and memorable experiences whilst you develop professionally.
Our signature programmes
Observership
Paediatric Ear, Nose and Throat
Objectives
By the end of the placement, the visiting professional should be able to:
- Understand the structure, governance, and multidisciplinary delivery of paediatric ENT care within a large NHS children's hospital.
- Observe the assessment and management of common paediatric ENT conditions, including otitis media with effusion, tonsillitis, obstructive sleep apnoea, chronic ear disease, and airway disorders.
- Gain exposure to specialist paediatric ENT pathways such as airway, implantation otology, microtia/atresia, facial nerve, allergy-related ENT, and MPS services.
- Develop an understanding of outpatient, theatre, inpatient, and MDT workflows, including communication with children and families.
- Recognise the contribution of audiologists, speech and language therapists, specialist nurses, and allied health professionals.
- Gain insight into audit, quality improvement, research, and education within a tertiary paediatric ENT service.
Eligibility
- The visiting professional must have sufficient English language skills to engage meaningfully in the observership.
Fellowship
Paediatric Ear, Nose and Throat
Objectives
By the end of the placement, the visiting professional should be able to:
- Consolidate specialist knowledge in paediatric ENT through supervised exposure to outpatient, theatre, inpatient, and MDT care.
- Develop clinical judgement in the assessment and management of common and complex paediatric ENT conditions.
- Gain experience of tertiary referral services, including airway reconstruction, implantation otology, microtia/atresia, facial nerve disorders, and MPS-related ENT care.
- Strengthen understanding of peri-operative planning, patient safety, and multidisciplinary decision-making within a specialist children's hospital.
- Participate in audit, quality improvement, teaching, or research activities.
- Develop professional confidence within an established NHS paediatric ENT service.
Eligibility
- Postgraduate Qualification: Applicants must hold an overseas-recognised postgraduate medical qualification (MD, MS, Masters) in ophthalmology or a relevant specialty.
- Experience: Minimum of 3 years’ recent experience in ophthalmology or a related specialty within the last 5 years, including at least 12 months of continuous practice before applying.
- Training Level: Equivalent to ST5 or above, or post-CCT clinicians seeking subspecialty exposure.
- Language Proficiency: IELTS Academic with 7.0 in each band and overall 7.5, or OET Medicine with Grade B in all domains, with certificate validity within 24 months.
- Registration: GMC registration is required for fellowship activity. Sponsorship support may be available through approved routes where appropriate.
- Applicants must not have failed PLAB exams previously.
- Visa sponsorship is only available through approved routes; self-funded visas outside agreed schemes are excluded.