Ear syringing on the NHS

[Spidey66]

Also posted in health.
Went swimming a few days ago, and now my ear is blocked. Its painful, im deaf, and it's ringing. I've been putting olive oil drops in it and if anything its worsening.

I've had this before, and whats always sorted it has been syringing.

I went to a minor injuries/walk in yesterday because the pain was getting worse to be told the NHS no longer do syringing. The NICE guidelines now recommend micro suction for blocked ears but this is only done privately. Instead the NHS will refer to audiologists for hearing aids.

Hearing aid referrals for blocked ears? Come again? I'm only deaf for want of a brief intervention!

This is ridiculous!

Should ear syringing or an alternative be available on the NHS? Yabu = no go and pay for it. Yanbu= ear syringing or an alternative should be available on the NHS

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My left ear is an absolute bugger, and I am going to have to pay privately to get it microsuctioned again. It does make me wonder about those people who can't afford it though

Otex is amazing for ear wax. Mum used to have hers syringed regularly. She now uses otex and may need them syringed once a year if that.

Not in my area (Scotland), they don't.

This doesn’t work for everyone

Otex has peroxide in it. When I did my ear syringing training we were told that that’s what they bleach hair with, so not to use it.

Bastards, they don't cut your toenails either. Nor wipe your nose
But ask everyone to increase their NI payments, find 40,000 more nurses, 15,000 new doctors, several thousand porters, radiologists, cleaners, and maintenance bods and I'm sure they will reinstate ear syringing

Those of you who are recommending Otex, I think most of us with recurring wax issues will have already tried it.

This is not on a level with cutting toenails or wiping noses. It’s a serious health issue that you have obviously never experienced.

Quite

Sadly it'll depend on the trust. My trust offers a nurse led service that takes referrals from GPS, consultants and audiologists. Someone with pain and fullness would be seen for initial consultation to check for infection or other complicating factors. Subsequent referral would be sent to the ear care nurse for suction. Our service is running tight after 2 retirements but are currently training people to step in. We've also initiated a junior doctor clinic for simple wax removal, with nurse specialist supervision. I'm sorry you're in this mess, I wish this service was uk wide it would make such a difference to peoples lives.

I hate to state the obvious, but if you know this happens why don't you wear ear plugs when you go swimming?

This is an example of the rising cost of healthcare. New technology and research leads to better treatments ie, suctioning which are more expensive. Either we increase NHS funding or have a 2-tier system where some people can pay and those who can’t lose the service. The government prefers the latter.

The reason that ‘the obvious’ has not already been stated is that it wasn’t the swimmer that caused the blockage, it was earwax. Swimming can sometimes push wax further in but that still leaves ears needing wax removal.

If there is water trapped behind the wax it can develop into an infection. The gp should be able to contact the on call registrar at the hospital. You could be seen at a rapid access opd ent clinic. We run ours between 9am and 12pm. Our worry is always the mention of pain that isn't resolving with treatment.

I think it depends entirely on what trust you’re under. I have my ears micro suctioned every 6 months as I have irregular ear canals which causes wax build up and awful infections. Took about 8 months to get an appointment after I was initially referred but that was all the way back in 2018. I know have regular 6 monthly appointments.

People don’t understand how awful having ear problems are until they get it themselves.

As well as that already mentioned ie its not the water causing the issue, its the wax, I have already stated the last time I used ear plugs while swimming I ended up in minor injuries getting one removed. Try reading my posts before 'stating the obvious ' at me.

@Choufleurfromage
Someone who clearly has never had the issue. When I had periods, most of the time I just needed paracetamol or brufen. Towards the end I was in severe pain and using a tampon and a sanitary pad which I was changing hourly bud still flooding. Should I just have tolerated that? No, because actually I had a fibroid the size of a 7 month pregnancy needing a hysterectomy. But I should have sucked it up?

Or what about the time my usually mild eczema was infected and sore, needing oral antibiotics and heavy duty steroid cream to treat? Maybe I should have just nipped to the corner shop for E45?

I'm in my 50s and I've been a qualified nurse for 30 years. I'm more than capable of when I can treat something myself, or go to a pharmacy for advice, or go to the GP or even go to A&E, which (shock horror) I did a few months ago. I'd fallen from my bike, breaking my shoulder in 3 places needing surgery to put a plate and pins in to fix. Maybe I should have picked myself up, dusted myself down, and not darkened the NHS doors? I work for them, i know they're struggling but I'm capable of knowing when to ask for their help.🙄

This is the NHS for you. Almost everything will be excluded soon, it’s already rationed. And this from an organization that has had a 20% increase in funding in 10 years.

I got this in lockdown it worked a treat qnd I had lots of wax
www.amazon.co.uk/POLAMD-Reusable-Syringes-Cleaning-Suitable/dp/B086WVJMFW/ref=mp_s_a_1_9?crid=H5B9WUC0MWIW&keywords=ear+syringe+kit&qid=1653247585&sprefix=ear+sy%2Caps%2C244&sr=8-9

@HappyDays40
Thanks for that recommendation. I'll get that. While the microsuction I had was effective, it was £££ and I'm sure I'll need it again. Ear syringing was always effective for me in the past.

Where are your numbers from? I don’t think that is correct.

Congratulations on 30 years as a nurse. I've done 42 years, so perhaps this is why I know the nhs has largely stopped recommending, and therefore undertaking, ear syringing.
So your sarkey example of cases where yes, one should be entitled to treatment, are pointless.

You do realise the wax you see if from the candle and it's unsafe to do and help in anything. Op...sadly the NHS doesn't do it now and tend to refer to Specsavers...in my area. Sounds like you water in the ear though from swimming. Hope better soon

My phone didn't let me finish Hopi candle s have no benefit

In which case you should be able to understand that impacted ear wax causes significant pain and distress to those who don't respond to otc ear drops and that removing ear syringing without providing an alternative is, at best, privatisation by stealth, and at worse causing further problems to both sufferers and ENT departments?