ENT – Grommet Insertion in Children

Grommet insertion in children is a procedure where small tubes are placed in the eardrum to help ventilate the middle ear. There is currently no harmonised Central East ICB clinical policy. Local area policies transferred to Central East ICB are available where these exist.

Clinical policies aim to prevent avoidable harm to patients by only offering treatments on the NHS that are evidence-based, clinically safe and effective, as well as cost effective and a good use of resources.

Information:

Currently there is not a single clinical policy for grommet insertion in children that applies to people across the whole Central East area.

Where a legacy Integrated Care Board (ICB) had an agreed clinical policy on grommet insertion in children, this policy transferred to Central East ICB on 1 April 2026. Previously agreed policies will continue to apply only to people living in that former ICB’s area until any new policy is adopted by NHS Central East ICB.

Where an area doesn’t have a previously agreed policy on grommet insertion in children, support for patients in that area will be based on a routine commissioning pathway.

Local clinical policy positions for grommet insertion in children

Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes

Grommets and Adenoidectomy in Children BLMK Policy

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough

Surgery for OME – Grommets and Adenoidectomy (Otitis Media) C&P Policy

Hertfordshire and West Essex

Grommets for Glue Ear in Children HWE Policy