Recent developments in Bell's palsy: Who should provide the care?

doi:10.1136/bmj.329.7474.1103-b

BMJ 2004;329:1103 (6 November), doi:10.1136/bmj.329.7474.1103-b

Letter

Recent developments in Bell's palsy

Who should provide the care?

EDITOR—In the United Kingdom, Bell's palsy is mostly managedin primary care.¹ In Holland and Weiner's thorough and helpfulaccount of its management the authors recommend that patientsshould be referred to a specialist as soon as possible.² Itwould be interesting to know more about their thinking: thiswould represent a change in practice for many general practitionerswho routinely provide comprehensive and evidence based assessmentand care for patients with new onset Bell's palsy, referringto specialists when specialist input is needed.

Holland and Weiner are apparently both otolaryngologists, sowell qualified to advise on the management of Bell's palsy.I wonder whether their review would have been much altered hada general practitioner been included in its authorship.

Adam Sandell, general practitioner

Adelaide Medical Centre, Newcastle upon Tyne NE4 8BE adam.sandell{at}nhs.net

Competing interests: None declared.

References

Rowlands S, Hooper R, Hughes R, Burney P. The epidemiology and treatment of Bell's palsy in the UK. Eur J Neurol 2002;9: 63-7.[CrossRef][ISI][Medline]
Holland NJ, Weiner GM. Recent developments in Bell's palsy. BMJ 2004;329: 553-7. (4 September.)[Free Full Text]