Ear syringing no longer a core NHS service in England.
People in England who suffer from earwax build-up are no longer entitled to have their ears syringed on the NHS, a government minister has confirmed.
Edward Argar, the health minister, said that ear syringing was no longer one of the core services that GPs are obliged to provide. However, he said that if the wax was linked to hearing loss, GPs could refer sufferers to audiology services, which can provide hearing aids.
Argar was responding to an inquiry from Tory MP Andrew Rosindell, who had been contacted by a constituent who felt that they should not have to pay for ear syringing, which can cost around £80 at private clinics.
The minister said that the decision to remove ear syringing from the list of core services was made by local clinical commissioning groups (CCGs), which are responsible for deciding which healthcare services are available in their area. He said that CCGs may have decided not to commission ear syringing because it was not seen as a priority, or because they felt that it was not cost-effective.
The NHS website says that a build-up of earwax can lead to dizziness, hearing loss, or ear infections. It recommends that people who are experiencing earwax problems try to remove it themselves by using over-the-counter ear drops or by gently irrigating their ears with warm water. However, it warns against using cotton buds or other objects to remove earwax, as this can push the wax further into the ear canal and make the problem worse.
If you are experiencing problems with earwax, you should see your GP or pharmacist for advice. They may be able to remove the wax for you, or they may refer you to a specialist ear, nose, and throat (ENT) clinic.
Or contact Ear Harmony to get your ear wax treated in the Worthing & West Sussex areas.