Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made an assessment of the impact of patients being unable to access ear wax services through the NHS on the cost of treating patients for associated conditions relating to a lack of ear wax removal provision.

No formal assessment has been made. General practitioner (GP) practices are increasingly recommending self-care methods as the primary means to support the safe removal of ear wax. However, if a GP practice considers removal clinically necessary, the procedure should either be undertaken at the practice, or the patient should be referred to an appropriate local NHS service depending on the arrangements in place. Local commissioners are responsible for meeting the health needs of their local population and should continue to ensure there is appropriate access to ear wax removal services.