To get my ear syringed out of 'ear syringing clinic times'

[Northumberlandlass]

My left ear has been blocked now for two weeks. I saw GP who passed me onto District Nurse. They said I needed to use olive oil for 2 weeks, then come back.

SO, I called this morning & asked if I could have an appointment for tomorrow (singing in a Christmas concert tomorrow night) to be told that the 'ear syringing clinic' is only on a Tues / Thurs from 2-4. I nicely told her that I couldn't do that as I work 25 miles from my GP's & that I work those days.

So, I called the GP's & explained, asked what could be done. They said the Practice Nurses aren't allowed to syringe ears now & that the GP's aren't trained too. She suggested that I call the District Nurses back & ask again.

Called District Nurse who offered me an appointment today at 3.15 ...I became parrot like and said I couldn't do today, but I was off tomorrow (DS Nativity) and begged them to squeeze me in or Friday.

NO NO NO ! ONLY IN EAR SYRINGING CLINIC TIMES ! I can't get there. So, I was told there was nothing they could do.

AIBU to expect them to help me ???

Well if they don't do it at any other times, it doesn't matter how many times you repeat yourself, they won't do it. You will need to take some time off for the appt.

Can you not get time off work?
You can't really expect the district nurses to make a special arrangement out of all the other things they need to do just to come to syringe your ear, frustrating though it is for you.
Alternatively, can you ask them where else they run clinics? There might be another one somewhere else on a different day or nearer your work.

I really really can't take time off work. I don't work Fridays and my v kind boss and I agreed that apart from emergencies I wouldn't get GP appointments from Mon-Thurs. Plus the appointment they offered me was too early anyway, I could maybe get away with leaving at 4.30 but no way at 2.30 !

I googled the NHS walk in centre Natasha, but I don't think they will do syringing.

I did think about the Hopi Ear Candling, but it £40 at my usual salon - and it bugs me to have to pay for it (but it is still an option)

Have you tried those drops from the chemist. I think they are called Otix, Otrix... I find they work quite well and I get this quite a bit.

You need to take holiday or a sick day. The doctors aren't going to rearrange their working hours around your working hours.

Thanks Wah, I have tried them - they are making my ear gloopy (for want of a better word) - but it hasn't cleared them yet. I might get some more though & keep trying.

It's just v frustrating !

Ooh nasty. I just pop in the drops and plug the ear with cotton wool. Youcan't get them syringes too many times though, or so the nurse told me. NHS walk in will do it. I had to have this one a couple of times as I couldnt get a doctors appointment.

You can buy DIY hopi candles online if thats any help.

Yes however lovely your boss is they need to let you have time off so you can hear again
I'd call in sick and get it done

earclinic london
not cheap but worth it.
dh has had recurrent ear wax that was only compacted with otix and was recommended to go there. they suck the gunk out without damaging the ear canal which can happen with syringing.

Don't use Hopi candles they are bollocks. Go to the walk-in centre.

Ben Goldacre (Bad Science) on ear candles here

I'm just baffled that people think the nhs would actually fit there clinics around people's work patterns

The stuff left in the candles is produced by the candle burning, not from your ear. Try burning one in a jar and its got the same stuff in it.

They are complete bollocks and dangerous too. We spend our whole time telling kids not put anything in ears that is smaller than your elbow, and we want to buy Hopi candles which we set alight to and stick in our ears?! Madness!

It is reasons like this inflexibilty in the NHS that people misuse A&E. Email PALS and threaten to make an official complaint. Healthcare staff need to learn to be more responsive to the needs of their customers.

I share your pain. I keep being told off by the GP for not attending th asthma clinic. I snapped last time and pointed out is is only on a weds afternoon with one nurse and like you I work 25 miles away from my GP surgery. I think hat given the NHS is funded by taxpayers, there shoukd be services available at times which working people as well as those not in employment. Why shouldn't GPs be open weekends and evenings? Why on earth not?

And the public need to start refusing to put up with this shoddy service.

It isn't practical to run these kind of specilist clinics all day every day, it's usual for them to run only on certain times or days. Yes, the NHS is funded by taxpayers, but where would the money come from to run all these clinics every day? Any decent employer should give their employees time off for essential medical appointments such as these, particularly when they cannot be arranged for outside a person's normal working hours.

If you give NHS Direct a call (I know, I know!) they'll be able to look at WIC records and tell you where else may be able to do it in your area. Shouldn't even require a callback, should be a simple one. HTH

agree with halcyondays, the nhs is cash strapped
just because you pay taxes doesn't mean they can afford to open gp surgeries evenings and weekends
ours is quite good in that it opens 7am - 8pm one day a week so you can go before or after work

my gp once syringed my ear on an august bank holiday saturday morning because no nurses were in and he could see how desperate I was, makes oyu all lop sided an feel ill if it gets really bad

It will be a local arrangement that dn's do the ear syringing. It will be logistics why they can't do it to suit you, ie clinic rooms availability etc! Just a question, would you expect a consultant to change his clinic day for your convenience?? Because for you not being able to do tues and thurs there will always be a pt that can't do every other day of the week! YABU