An initial consultation with Professor Carl Philpott is from £215.
Professor Carl Philpott
Honorary Consultant ENT Surgeon
MB ChB, DLO, FRCS(ORL-HNS), MD, PGCME
Specialises in
- Ear, nose and throat problems
- Head and neck surgery
- Laryngology, including voice disorders
- Rhinology
- Smell and taste disorders
Also available for:
Virtual consultations:
I am a graduate of Leicester University Medical School and completed my basic surgical training in the University Hospitals of Leicester before undertaking a period of research into developing apparatus for testing the sense of smell, which culminated in my MD Thesis. My specialist training was completed in East Anglia and I also spent time at the St Paul’s Sinus Centre in Vancouver, Canada and at the Smell and Taste Clinic at Dresden University, Germany.
My main clinical interests include smell and taste disorders, the medical and surgical treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis, allergic fungal rhinosinusitis and other sino-nasal disorders. I established the first dedicated ENT image-guided sinus surgery facility in East Anglia and now run a regular sinus surgery course at University of East Anglia (UEA).
I established the UK's first dedicated smell and taste clinic. With over 10 years' experience of seeing over 1,000 patients with smell and taste disorders, I am able to offer a comprehensive assessment and potential treatment plan for affected individuals. Approximately 50% of patients seen in the clinic have a potentially treatable cause for their loss of smell or taste. I also see a range of general ENT problems including sore throats, voice problems, ear problems and neck lumps.
In 2010 I was appointed as an Academic Surgeon to the UEA. As Professor of Rhinology and Olfactology, I lead on a number of research projects related to chronic sinusitis and smell and taste disorders. I am currently co-leading a programme involving a major trial for patients with chronic sinusitis across the UK (MACRO Trial) and a proof of concept study for vitamin A in post-viral olfactory dysfunction (APOLLO trial). Other research roles include being ENT Lead for the Eastern Local Clinical Research Network and President of the British Otorhinolaryngology & Allied Sciences Research Society. For further details visit Working towards broadening our understanding of ENT diseases | Rhinology and ENT Research Group (uea.ac.uk)
I am a trustee of the patient-led charity, Fifth Sense and in partnership with the charity we hosted the UK’s first smell and taste symposium for clinicians and researchers in May 2022.
General Medical Council Number: 4510862
Treatment information
Some of the principal treatments carried out by Professor Carl Philpott at Spire include:
Ear Nose and Throat (ENT)
- Balloon sinuplasty for chronic sinusitis
- Laryngoscopy investigation
- Neck lumps
- Sinus surgery (functional endoscopic sinus surgery or FESS)
- Tonsillectomy for adults
Other treatments
- Allergy
- Head and neck surgery
- Laryngology
- Paediatric otolaryngology
- Rhinology
- Smell and taste disorders
- Voice disorders
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Additional information
Clinical interests
Ear, nose and throat
Head and neck surgery
Laryngology
Paediatric otolaryngology
Rhinology
Voice disorders
Sinus surgery
Hearing loss
Special clinical interests: Nose and sinus problems including image-guided endoscopic sinus surgery, balloon sinuplasty, hayfever, nasal polys, nosebleeds and facial pain, smell and taste disorders, tumours; repair of brain fluid leaks, blocked tear ducts, facial skin lumps and nasal deformity (eg broken / crooked noses).
Qualification and professional memberships
Professional memberships
Royal College of Surgeons of England
British Association of Otorhinolaryngologist/Head & Neck Surgeons (ENT UK) (Member of Council)
British Rhinological Society (Member of Council)
British Society of Academic Otolaryngologists
American Academy of Otorhinolaryngologist/Head & Neck Surgery
European Chemosensory Research Organisation
Journal Reviewer for Rhinology, Clinical Otolaryngology Chemical Senses and Archives of Otorhinolayrngology/Head & Neck Surgery
Trustee of the charity Fifth Sense
Research and publications
As a senior lecturer at UEA I am involved in a number of research projects including:
- The patient experience of suffering with chronic sinusitis
- A study of the risk factors of chronic sinusitis
- The study of the costs of chronic sinusitis to patients and the NHS
- An analysis of the evidence for treatments of chronic sinusitis and their cost-effectiveness
- Developing new smell testing equipment
- Pioneering new treatments for smell and taste disorders
- Topical (direct to the nose) therapies for sinusitis
- Improved understanding of underlying mechanisms of various forms of sinusitis
- Screening for Parkinson's disease through the sense of smell
- New trials to determine the best use of antibiotics in chronic sinusitis
My academic and administrative roles include:
- Honorary secretary of the British Society for Academic Otorhiolaryngologists
- ENT Lead for the Eastern Clinical Research Network
- Public and Patient Involvement Champion for the NIHR ENT Speciality
- Group Chair of the British Rhinological Society Research Group and a member of the BRS Council
- East Anglian Representative to the ENT UK Council
- Chair of the Professionalism Committee and Module 7 Lead, Norwich Medical School
- Member of the Research and Development Governance Committee, James Paget University
- Hospital Author/editor of the trainee revision book "Bullet Points in ENT" and contributor to a number of ENT textbooks.
Media Coverage
Current NHS posts
Honorary Consultant ENT Surgeon, James Paget University Hospital
Honorary Consultant ENT Surgeon, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital
Senior Lecturer in Otorhinolaryngology, University of East Anglia
Personal profile
I am married with three children; my wife is a General Practitioner in Norfolk. My interests include foreign travel, tennis, golf and skiing, the latter having benefited greatly from a year living in Canada – the Whistler Bowl is a must for any hardened skier! A love of Formula One, European history and developing my culinary skills help occupy some spare time too.
Contact information
| Telephone | 01603 255 574 |
| Private secretary | Lauren Houseago |
| Private secretary telephone | 01603 255 528 (Secretary) Smell and Taste Appointments |
| Private secretary email | lauren.houseago@spirehealthcare.com |