European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
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Ear nose and throat oral and maxillofacial surgery service provision is undergoing major changes within the United Kingdom Healthcare System (NHS) with devolution of many treatments to primary care. Epistaxis, active bleeding from the nose, is a common ear nose and throat/oral and maxillofacial surgery emergency, and can be severe or even fatal. The causes can be from local or systemic illnesses. ⋯ This is a change to the current standard UK management. We discuss the case for and against the adoption of this policy by the main healthcare components (primary and secondary) of the NHS. We present an economic argument.