Introduction The UK Medical Licensing Assessment (UKMLA) curriculum represents a consensus on core content including ENT-related content for newly qualified doctors. However, there is no similar consensus as to how ENT content should be taught at medical school. Design A virtual consensus forum was held at the 2nd East of England ENT Conference in April 2021 to ascertain views of medical students and junior doctors on how ENT should be taught at medical school. A syllabus of ENT-related items based on the UKMLA and GMC practical procedures curricula was divided into ‘Presentations’, ‘Conditions’ and ‘Practical Procedures’. 64 participants (27 students, 11 foundation doctors, and 7 other junior doctors) voted via anonymous polling for up to three of nine teaching methods they believed were best suited to teach each syllabus item. Results For ‘Presentations’, work-based/clinical-based learning and small-group seminars were significantly more popular than other methods, a further two were of middling popularity, and the remaining five (including simulation and e-learning) were significantly less popular. ‘Conditions’ results were near-identical, with work-based/clinical-based learning and small-group seminars significantly more popular than the remaining teaching methods. For ‘Practical procedures’ the three practical teaching methods were significantly more popular than the six theoretical methods. Conclusion Students and junior doctors express clear preference for clinical-based teaching and small-group seminars when learning ENT content. E-learning is poorly favoured, despite being increasingly used by medical schools and teaching bodies. Co-design of clinical training between students and educators may ensure training better matches students’ needs and expectations.

Objectives To explore the impact of COVID-19 on the management and outcomes of acute paediatric mastoiditis across the UK. Design National retrospective and prospective audit Setting 48 UK secondary care ENT departments Participants Consecutive children aged 18 years or under, referred to ENT with a clinical diagnosis of mastoiditis. Main outcome measures Cases were divided into: Period 1 (01/11/19-15/03/20) before the UK population were instructed to reduce social contact, and Period 2 (16/03/20-30/04/21), following this. Periods 1&2 were compared for population variables, management and outcomes. Secondary analyses compared outcomes by primary treatment (medical/needle aspiration/surgical). Results 286 cases met criteria (median 4 per site, range 0-24). 9.4 cases were recorded per week in period 1 versus 2.0 in period 2, with no winter increase in cases in Dec 2020-Feb 2021. Patient age differed between period 1&2 (3.2 Vs 4.7 years respectively, p<0.001). 85% of children in period 2 were tested for COVID-19 with a single positive test. In period 2 cases associated with P. aeruginosa significantly increased. 48.6% of children were scanned in period 1 vs 41.1% in period 2. Surgical management was used more frequently in period 1 (43.0% Vs 24.3%, p=0.001). Treatment success was high, with failure of initial management in 6.3%, and 30-day re-admission for recurrence in 2.1%. The adverse event rate (15.7% overall) did not vary by treatment modality or between periods 1& 2. Conclusion The COVID-19 pandemic led to a significant change in the presentation and case-mix of acute paediatric mastoiditis in the UK.