The Southwark Community ENT Service (SCENTS) was commissioned by NHS Southwark. The aim of extending primary care provision was to provide an alternative to the consultant led acute ENT outpatient services situated at King's College Hospital (KCH) and Guy's and St. Thomas' Trust (GSTT). The community based ENT clinic led by a GP with Special Interest (GPwSI) was set up as a pilot in Parkside Medical Centre, Camberwell Green, in 2005 on a twice weekly basis to serve South Southwark GPs. In 2007, due to its proven effectiveness in providing cost effective and clinically appropriate rapid care, the service expanded to cater for the entire borough, and the number of sessions was doubled to meet the increased demand. By December 2010, to cater for the growing need and to provide a service 'closer to home', additional sessions in Aylesbury Medical Centre and at Bermondsey Medical Centre were introduced each week.

In working closely with the PCT Commissioners we ensure we are connected and accountable to the Commissioners, the two GP Consortia, LINKS and the local health economy, particularly with forums dealing with "Patient and Public Involvement". Our patient satisfaction surveys ensure that we give patients and the public the opportunity to feed in to the design and the planning of the ENT service.

The service now sees over 50% of ENT referrals across Southwark and has taken approximately 80% of these away from secondary care, providing NHS Southwark with huge cost savings and patients quicker and easier access to care