EAR TREATMENT IS A LOTTERY

LAST week I wrote about problem ear wax, saying that irrigation, once known as syringing, is the best option.

Dozens of you contacted me to say this was no longer being offered on the NHS.

A quick Twitter poll of my GP colleagues around the country suggested that a quarter have stopped offering ear irrigation. It’s a significant postcode lottery.

The problem is, ear irrigation is not a ‘core service’, meaning there is no obligation to provide it.

Privately, the procedure can cost between £25 and £50. A hospital appointment may be the only other option, which seems ridiculous considering how simple the irrigation is.

If your GP isn’t offering the service, ask your local Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) what provision there is, particularly if you’re a hearing-aid user for whom irrigation can be essential.