Following discussion across the ENT surgical profession in NHS Scotland and considering the evidence and risks, there is a consensus that the provision of surgical tonsillectomy for patients presenting with tonsils stones alone is not currently a good use of NHS resources. ENT Scotland in consultation with the office of the Chief Medical Officer in Scotland concludes therefore that this procedure should not be offered on the NHS in Scotland and referrals to the Borders General Hospital for this will no longer be accepted.
There is no strong evidence to support any non-surgical treatment of tonsilloliths but suggesting good oral hygiene and stopping smoking is reasonable advice.
Do not refer patients for tonsillectomy with tonsil stones alone as these referrals will not be accepted.
There is no NHS Scotland service offering removal of tonsil stones with or without tonsillectomy.
The only patients that should be referred would be those with red flag symptoms, which would not be related to tonsil stones.
There is no strong evidence to support any non-surgical treatment of tonsilloliths but suggesting good oral hygiene and stopping smoking is reasonable advice.
Borders Ref Help Toolkit