PHARMACISTS OFTEN HEAR FIRST-HAND HOW DISTRESSING EAR PROBLEMS CAN BE FOR PATIENTS


Safe and Modern Treatment Options Treatment methods have also advanced. Ear syringing, once routine in general practice, is no longer recommended due to safety concerns. Modern micro-suction, often with endoscopic guidance, is now considered best practice (3)


.


With the right training and equipment, pharmacies can deliver this gold-standard procedure safely and effectively.


Patients consistently report high satisfaction with micro-suction delivered in pharmacies. Many appreciate the speed and privacy of the service compared with hospital clinics and the reassurance that they can return quickly if symptoms recur.


Training and Clinical Confidence Training is key. Pharmacists and their teams must be able to spot red-flag symptoms, know when referral is appropriate and treat patients with confidence. Specialist training and ongoing support ensure safety, build capability and empower pharmacies to expand their clinical services (4)


.


Some pharmacies have gone further, integrating ear health into broader clinical services. Staff are trained not only in wax removal, but also in conducting basic hearing checks, discussing preventative care and signposting patients to audiology or ENT where needed. This holistic approach ensures patients receive a seamless experience, without feeling passed between multiple providers.


There is also scope for collaboration. Pharmacists working closely with local audiology or ENT services can create referral pathways that are clear, timely and patient-centred. Such partnerships enhance trust between sectors and reassure patients that their care is joined up.


A Growing Role in Audiology Looking to the future, pharmacy’s role in audiology could extend well beyond wax removal.


Hearing checks, early screening and partnerships with hearing aid providers all represent natural next steps. In the United States, over the counter (OTC) hearing aids are already widely


available (5)


. If the UK follows suit, pharmacies are


perfectly positioned to lead in making hearing solutions more accessible.


Impact on Patients and the NHS For patients, the benefits are tangible. Same-day appointments for blocked ears can restore hearing within minutes, preventing weeks of discomfort.


Across the UK, innovative pharmacies are already embracing ear health services. Some have invested in modern consultation rooms and equipment designed to deliver professional, private and comfortable experiences for patients.


Others have linked ear health checks with broader wellbeing services, such as blood pressure testing or smoking cessation, recognising that hearing is part of overall health.


Technological investment has been key. From micro-suction devices to digital record-keeping systems, pharmacies are adopting tools that ensure consistency, compliance and safety.


For the NHS, pharmacy ear health services reduce the burden on GP surgeries and ENT clinics. By triaging straightforward cases, pharmacies allow hospital specialists to focus on complex patients. This redistribution of care supports NHS efficiency and helps meet increasing demand without compromising safety.


A Call to Action By embracing ear and hearing health, community pharmacies can reduce waiting times, ease NHS pressures and profoundly improve both physical and mental wellbeing – proving once again that they are at the very heart of primary care innovation.


References 1. Guest JF, Greener MJ, Robinson AC, Smith AF. Impacted cerumen: composition, production, epidemiology and management. QJM. 2020;103(8):597–604. 2. Livingston G, Huntley J, Sommerlad A, Ames D, Ballard C, Banerjee S, et al. Dementia prevention, intervention, and care: 2020 report of the Lancet Commission. Lancet. 2020;396(10248):413–446. 3. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Earwax removal [IPG668]. 2018. 4. Royal Pharmaceutical Society. Expanding pharmacy services:


Clinical services in community pharmacy. London: RPS; 2022.


5. US Food and Drug Administration. FDA Finalizes Historic Rule Enabling Access to Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids for Millions of Americans. 2022.


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