"Ear syringing for 99-year-old"

On 15/3/19 I took my 99-yr-old Dad to the hearing clinic at the hospital.

We were told to make an appointment at his GP surgery for ear syringing.

I rang the surgery immediately and was told they no longer do ear syringing and have no machine (they are apparently, I was told, the last surgery to get rid of their machine).

I was told I had to get a kit from the chemist and do it myself.

I rang the hospital back who said they thought the surgery should do it for a patient with hearing aids and complex hearing issues; the hospital were not keen on me doing it myself and said that that isn't very effective anyway; the hospital said some surgeries still do ear syringing, particularly for someone with complex hearing issues.

Dad had to see a nurse practitioner at the surgery the same afternoon about a small growth on the back of his ear.

I asked the nurse practitioner about ear syringing.

She said it was no problem and they would do it - just put olive oil in for 7 days.

I told her I had rung earlier and been told the surgery wouldn't do it.

She went and checked with someone and came back and said it was fine, they would do it, and were obliged to do it for people with hearing aids.

Therefore,I booked an appointment at reception that very same day for Dad to have his ears syringed on the 25/3/19.

We got olive oil from the chemist and put it in twice a day for a week.

Today, 25/3, I took Dad for his appointment (he is nearly 100 yrs old and doesn't walk well).

I was told the appointment had been cancelled.

The receptionist said someone had phoned to cancel it.

They had absolutely not!!!

I had the appointment slip and showed her.

Then she said the olive oil should have been for 10 days not 7 (the nurse practitioner had said 7). The receptionist booked an appointment for Friday.

Then she said they no longer do ear syringing and had I got the kit?

What a disgraceful mess.

I am appalled with this surgery.

There was no apology from the receptionist or anyone else.

How can anyone - let alone a GP surgery - treat a 99-yr-old man (who has been at this surgery for decades), who has struggled in for an appointment, in such an utterly disgraceful way.

I will put in a formal complaint and write to the Care Quality Commission and Healthwatch.and the Clinical Commissioning Group.

Surgeries must realise they cannot walk over patients in this way - particularly a man who is nearly 100 and his daughter.