THE ears, nose and throat department at Hereford County Hospital is under the microscope.

Several options are being considered to decide its future.

But none of them mean the service will be taken away, said Cessa Moore, chairman of Hereford Hospitals Trust.

Because the speciality has a small medical and support team there were significant challenges ahead, it was reported at a trust board meeting this week.

Not least was the working pattern laid down by the European Working Time Directive, which demands a strict limit on working hours.

A team of clinical directors and board directors want to see a more detailed examination of the options available in Herefordshire before a decision is made.

These include carrying on with current arrangements, arranging for major out of hours emergency care to be provided at another larger hospital like Worcester, or investing more money in ENT services at the County Hospital, with additional consultant staff.

More discussions will now take place with Herefordshire Primary Trust, with conclusions to be reported at the board's next meeting on March 29. If both trusts consider there is strong reason to propose significant changes, formal consultations will take place to be completed early in May.

In the meantime Herefordshire Council's overview and scrutiny committee, chaired by Councillor Stuart Thomas, is looking at ENT provision in the county and is now in consultation with stakeholders in the service.