Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT)

The Mater hospital provides otolaryngology head and neck services. We specialise in otology (ear surgery), rhinology and head and neck oncology. We provide outpatient and inpatient care for a variety of Ear, nose and throat (ENT) disorders.

The ENT department provides care to many Otolaryngology diseases.

Our team includes:

• 5 otolaryngology consultants
• speech and language therapists
• audiology/vestibular services
• head and neck clinical nurse specialists
• dieticians

Otology

Our otology (ear surgery) department treats a wide range of ear and hearing conditions. We have a highly skilled team of audiologists and physiotherapists. 

The team specialise in managing chronic otitis media and hearing loss linked to the outer and middle ear. 

The Mater is the regional centre for bone-anchored hearing aids (BAHA). We work closely with the local community audiology service.

Rhinology

Patients are commonly referred to an ENT specialist due to nasal-related issues. We deal with many diseases. These include rhinitis (inflammation inside the nose), which can affect up to 50% of the population. We also manage complex sinonasal issues caused by systemic diseases such as Cystic Fibrosis. 

The Mater is the National Centre for heart and lung transplantation. 

In 2006, we were the first unit in the country to offer image-guided sinus and anterior skull base surgery. In 2007, we carried out the first frontal sinus endoscopic drill out procedure. We are at the forefront in treating complex rhinological diseases, both medically and surgically.

Head and Neck

We manage all kinds of head and neck oncology including:

• malignant disease of the upper aerodigestive tract
• complex skin cancer
• thyroid and parathyroid disease
• benign and malignant salivary gland disease
• new presentations of cervical lymphadenopathy

Our team includes

• 3 head and neck oncology surgeons
• plastic reconstructive surgeons
• head and neck oncology nurse specialists
• radiologists
• pathologists
• medical oncologists
• radiation oncologists
• palliative care
• MDT co-ordinators
• administration staff

We are the only national centre for Transoral Robotic Surgery (TORS). Which has wide-ranging applications in the treatment of Oropharyngeal, hypopharyngeal and Laryngeal cancers. 

The Mater Hospital is under the umbrella of the UCD Head and Neck Oncology Group. This group provides oncology care across the Mater Misericordiae and St. Vincent’s University Hospitals.

Otolaryngology is involved in the research and teaching activities at the UCD Medical School. Professor Fergal O’Duffy holds an academic post at the university