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Poor advise on ear problem

Story from nhs.uk

"Poor advise on ear problem"

About: Bersted Green Surgery

I had hardened earwax which was causing problems for me. You advised me to use olive oil for 21 days then use a bulb syringe to wash away earwax. After 14 day's of using oil I couldn't hear anything and it was so uncomfortable the oil had made it worse. I was struggling with work and any background noise made my hearing worse. I paid privately to have ear syringed and they recommend you only use oil for no longer than 3 days. 14 day's of oil and skin had clogged over my eardrum. Not happy it cost me £80 when I should have been able to get the treatment on nhs. I work and contribute but have to pay for correct treatment. Not happy but I can hear!

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Responses

Response from Bersted Green Surgery 5 years ago
Bersted Green Surgery

Submitted on 21/10/2018 at 20:02
Published on nhs.uk at 20:05

An advice leaflet has been developed for use by all of the local surgeries regarding ear syringing. Following the advice and applying oil for 21 days often resolves the problem and so avoids the need to syringe the ear with all the associated risks such as infection. Unfortunately, as the leaflet explains, your hearing can get worse before it gets better. If the ear wax is not dealt with by 21 days of oil drops then one of our treatment nurses will syringe the ear but we are finding that this is the exception. The private clinic's advice is designed to prepare the ears for syringing rather than trying to avoid it.

I hope that this explains the advice you were given and reassures you that the service is available on the NHS should you have this problem again.

kind regards

Bersted Green Surgery

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