Recent developments in Bell's palsy

Editor—In the United Kingdom, Bell's palsy is mostly managed in primary care.¹ In Holland and Weiner's thorough and helpful account of its management the authors recommend that patients should be referred to a specialist as soon as possible.² It would be interesting to know more about their thinking: this would represent a change in practice for many general practitioners who routinely provide comprehensive and evidence based assessment and care for patients with new onset Bell's palsy, referring to specialists when specialist input is needed.

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