Well Pharmacy this month announced the launch of a new “ear wax removal service” to “help people suffering from hearing difficulties, discomfort and social isolation caused by blocked ears”.
The service allows “trained community [pharmacists]” to remove ear wax “safely and effectively” using TympaHealth microsuction technology, it said.
An initial ear check costs £10 plus a further £50 if treatment is required, the multiple told C+D today (May 28), adding that a free follow-up appointment is available for pharmacists to assess whether the patient needs to come back every three or six months for check-ups.
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It remains unclear how many Well Pharmacy branches are currently offering the service.
Well deputy superintendent George Sandhu said that “for too long, blocked ears have been seen as an issue affecting older people, but [the chain is] seeing more and more younger patients come in with hearing difficulties”.
The service aims to “help adults of all ages regain their hearing and confidence”, he added.
Rowlands rollout
Meanwhile, Rowlands Pharmacy also announced the launch of its new private “ear and hearing health services” earlier this month (May 8), making it “easier than ever for patients to locally access safe, effective ear and hearing care”.
Also created in partnership with TympaHealth – a “leading innovator in ear and hearing health” – the service “directly addresses the growing demand for accessible ear care” by making it available “on the high street”, it said.
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The service “enables pharmacy teams to carry out an ear examination with high-definition video (digital otoscopy), wax removal if required and a hearing check”, it added.
The multiple told C+D that the private service is currently available in 20 branches, offering ear checks from £10 and earwax removal starting at £40.
“Ease” GP pressure
“Ear wax build-up is one of the most common but under-treated health issues in the UK [and] it can cause hearing difficulties, pain, balance problems and even infections,” the multiple said.
But it stressed that “many patients are unaware help is available outside traditional NHS services”, adding that the platform will help to “reduce the need for a GP referral or enduring long NHS waiting times” and “ease pressure” on GPs and secondary care.
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Rowlands managing director Nigel Swift said that the new service “means people can now walk into their local Rowlands Pharmacy and receive quick, professional ear health check and wax removal”, adding that it “removes the need to suffer in silence or navigate lengthy referral pathways”.
And TympaHealth founder and chief executive Dr Krishan Ramdoo said that the partnership “brings ear examinations, ear wax removal and hearing checks into the community, offering people faster access, better outcomes and ultimately improving their quality of life”.
It comes after Well Pharmacy announced the launch of a new “Online Doctor” service in February to help provide a “secure and discreet way” for patients to access treatment “without the need for in-person consultations”.
