A NEW report has exposed the postcode lottery of NHS ear wax removal services in Wales, leaving more than half the population (1.6 million people) with zero support if they need it, and at risk of preventable hearing loss.
Research from RNID, the charity supporting people who are deaf, have hearing loss or tinnitus, has revealed a postcode lottery across Wales, as the largest Health Boards have either a partial wax removal service, or no service at all, leaving people to attempt risky self-management of ear wax, or fork out for costly private services, which more than a third say they cannot afford.
Appoximately 95,000 people in Wales require professional ear wax removal every year and now the country is at risk of falling behind the other UK nations in provision of wax removal services. Older people, hearing aid users and people with learning disabilities are more likely to be affected.
According to the report, in areas with zero service, people with ear wax build-up have no choice but to pay for private removal, which can cost up to £100 per session. With 1 in 10 people requiring ear wax removal three or more times per year, this can become prohibitively expensive and more than a third surveyed by the charity say this is unaffordable.
Without access to ear wax services, many people are also left to attempt ear wax removal at home. A survey conducted by RNID has revealed the extent to which dangerous DIY self-management methods are used, despite the fact these methods are known to cause infection, ear canal or ear drum damage and permanent hearing loss.
When a nationally representative sample of people in the UK were asked the question “what have you used to remove or treat ear wax at home?” 1 in 3 (33%) said cotton buds, making it the most common risky DIY method. 1 in 20 people admitted using tweezers or hairpins.
- Cotton buds – 1 in 3 (33%)
- Finger or fingernail – almost 3 in 20 (14%)
- Earwax scoop removal tool – over 1 in 20 (6%)
- Ear candles – 1 in 20 (5%)
- Tweezers – 1 in 20 (5%)
- Hairpins or bobby pins – 1 in 20 (5%)
Further polling from RNID has revealed the painful and distressing symptoms faced by people unable to access the necessary ear wax services. Nearly half (45%) experienced hearing loss, a third experienced earache, and a quarter developed tinnitus. Additionally, one in five reported poor mental health and feelings of isolation, whilst 1 in 10 had to take time off work as a result.
The Welsh Government was one of the first in the UK to recognise the importance of wax removal services and introduce a specific wax National Pathway, in line with NICE guidelines. The Pathway was intended to provide a consistent and equal approach to removal services, as well as empowering people with a medical need for wax removal manage their own care safely.
However, the Pathway has not been fully implemented across Wales, and there are areas where patients cannot access essential wax removal services at all in either primary or community care. Wales is now at risk of falling behind the other UK nations in provision of wax removal services.
To address the crisis, RNID has launched the Stop the Block campaign and is urging the Welsh Government to step in to ensure everyone who needs wax removal can access it. The charity is calling on Welsh Government to:
- Work with all Health Boards to ensure that everyone with a medical need for wax removal has free access to it across the whole of Wales by 2026, with ring-fenced funding for the service.
- Ensure that consistent, evidence-based information on the self-management of ear wax is shared with patients across the seven Health Boards, so people can manage their wax safely from home.
Crystal Rolfe, Director of Strategy at RNID, said: “It is deeply concerning that tens of thousands of people across Wales still cannot access an NHS wax removal service when they have a medical need, leaving them at risk of serious health complications. Access to this service is vital for people’s quality of life and wellbeing.
“Whilst we support the policy and guidance underpinning the National Pathway, our research shows that without proper funding, it has not translated into consistent access to services for people across Wales and there are still significant gaps in provision.
“We urge the Welsh Government to ring-fence funding for this essential service, so everyone across Wales who needs wax removal can access it for free, when they need it. Without this funding, health inequalities will persist, leaving half the population without the care they require.”
Freedom of Information (FOI) requests submitted by RNID to all health boards in Wales show that four Health Boards, covering more than half the population, either have no service in place, or their service is only partially rolled out. These Health Boards are: Aneurin Bevan, Cardiff and Vale, Betsi Cadwaladr and Cwm Taf Morgannwg.
For more information and to support RNID’s Stop the Block campaign, visit www.rnid.org.uk/stoptheblock.
