Publish date: 17 November 2020

As part of our response to the COVID-19 pandemic we closed the Royal National Throat Nose and Ear Hospital (RNTNEH) site on Gray's Inn Road in March 2020. Services based at this site were inpatients ear, nose and throat (ENT) and oral surgery, sleep diagnostics and allergy day case services.

Given our existing plans to close this site later in 2020, we have decided to not reopen the hospital and to permanently close the site now. This is slightly earlier than our strategic plan intended, with the RNTNEH due to close when ENT and oral surgery services moved to our brand new cancer and surgery facility which is due to open later this year, and sleep diagnostics and allergy day case services moved to other UCLH sites.

The services are now restarting following the peak of the pandemic. Sleep diagnostics and allergy day case services are based at University College Hospital and Royal National ENT and Eastman Dental Hospitals. Until our new cancer and surgical facility opens, ENT and oral surgical services will be provided from alternative locations at UCLH and if required in the private sector.

Tim Hodgson, Medical Director for Specialist Services said: “We are extremely proud of the RNTNEH, which became part of UCLH in 2012. Those who worked there have been involved in many amazing developments in how we care and treat people with ENT conditions, sleep disorders and allergies. The COVID-19 pandemic has meant that we have accelerated our plan to close the hospital. Being in more modern and purpose built facilities, co-located with other UCLH services, will mean we can provide the very best care for our patients.”

Information for patients about the location of services is available on our website and is set out in patient appointment letters.