Earwax impaction: why it needs to be treated in primary care

Patients presenting with earwax impaction need access to earwax removal services in primary care. All general practices should have a nurse trained in delivering ear irrigation with water.

Abstract
Many people who present to their general practice with impacted earwax are not offered removal services locally, but referred to secondary care, advised to self-care or directed to private services. Earwax impaction can have severe negative effects on health, wellbeing and quality of life. General practices have a duty to offer earwax removal. In addition, patient groups that are vulnerable or unlikely to complain about earwax or loss of hearing – such as children, older people and people with cognitive impairment – need to have their ears and hearing regularly assessed.

Citation: Harkin H (2019) Earwax impaction: why it needs to be treated in primary care. Nursing Times [online]; 115: 8, 38-40.

Author: Hilary Harkin is ear, nose and throat clinical nurse specialist at the ear, nose and throat outpatient department, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust.
This article has been double-blind peer reviewed
Scroll down to read the article or download a print-friendly PDF here (if the PDF fails to fully download please try again using a different browser)