Calls for return of NHS earwax removal services as people use paper clips and toothpicks to clean ears (BSL)

The Royal National Institute for Deaf people (RNID) has called for earwax removal services to be made available again at GP and community services, after a survey revealed individuals are resorting to “dangerous methods” to clear their ears of wax.

The poll of almost 1,500 people between May and found more than 70% of respondents had tried removing their earwax, despite two-thirds saying they didn’t feel confident doing so – with techniques used including hair clips, paper clips, toothpicks and cotton buds.

This is despite guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) advising individuals not to remove earwax through the use of “small objects”, as it can “damage the ear canal and eardrum” or push the wax further into the ear.

The NHS instead advises people put two or three drops of “medical grade” olive oil in their ear three to four times a day to treat wax build-up, for three to five days. 76% of those surveyed said they had used this method.

However, out of all of those who had tried to remove the wax themselves, only a fifth reported their symptoms were resolved. 55% noticed no difference, while 7% said they got worse and 3% injured themselves to the extent they required medical attention.

Lizzie Jackson, 67, experienced a build-up of earwax following an ear infection in 2020. She said: “The problem got worse until I couldn’t hear at all and I became completely deaf. The pressure in my ears caused some pain, discomfort and a few balance problems.

“The only thing was to self-treat for wax build-up so I put in special olive oil for softening earwax, which I got from the pharmacy.

“The cotton wool that I placed at the entry to my ear canal to stop the olive oil dripping out got stuck deep in my ear. I had to go to hospital to get it removed.

“They eventually removed the earwax, but I should have been able to access a practice nurse at my doctors who could have solved the problem several weeks earlier.”

It comes as two-thirds of those surveyed said they had been told earwax removal was no longer available on the NHS, with more than 25% revealing they cannot afford to have treatment from a private healthcare provider.

Paul Clarke, 51, became deaf after contracting meningitis as a child and received earwax removal services at Belfast Royal Victoria Hospital before it was stopped during the coronavirus pandemic.

After contacting his doctor following a fall, with cause being a build-up of earwax, Paul said the GP provided him with “two options”.

“[They were] to either go private or go on a waiting list with the health trust. I thought about going privately but it was too costly.

“I experienced a lot of discomfort and it had a severe effect on my communication with others. Eventually I got an appointment but it took over a year,” he said.

Following their survey, the RNID is also urging the NHS to publish “clear information” about managing earwax build-up at home, and for NHS England, the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) and local health organisations to work on “new models” for providing earwax removal services.

Crystal Rolfe, associate director for health at the charity, said: “We are concerned that many people with ear wax build up are at serious risk of permanently damaging their hearing and their ears now that they are unable to access ear wax removal services on the NHS.

“We’ve heard of people in agony with pain, and depressed at the lack of support they’ve received from health professionals. Some people are unable to leave the house or are left using a notepad to communicate.

“Someone with ear wax build-up used to be treated in a week at their GP, but now the service has been withdrawn people who can’t afford private treatment are left with no options. This isn’t good enough.

“Ear wax removal services must be available on the NHS for everyone who needs them.”

NHS England was approached for comment, but no statement was given and the website was instead referred to NHS guidance available online.

DHSC did not respond to this website’s request for comment.

The Limping Chicken understands any new methods for delivering earwax removal services, explored by NHS England, DHSC and local health bodies, would have to be investigated and researched by NICE.

They would then have to issue a recommendation for use in primary care settings such as GPs before this can take place.

Photo: John O’Shea/Flickr.

By Liam O’Dell. Liam is an award-winning Deaf freelance journalist and campaigner from Bedfordshire. He can be found talking about disability, theatre, politics and more on Twitter and on his website.