Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has taken recent steps to help increase access to ear wax removal for people who cannot afford private treatment.

As recommended in guidance by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), ear wax removal services are available on the National Health Service when there is a clinical need. Integrated care boards are responsible for commissioning local health services to meet the health needs of local people. This includes arranging the provision of ear wax removal services on the NHS for patients in line with the recommendations on ear wax removal services in the NICE guidance.