Scotland faces deafness crisis as GPs refuse to clean patients’ ears, charity warns… – The Scottish Sun

SCOTLAND faces a deafness crisis with GPs refusing to clean patients’ ears, it has been warned.

Family doctors across the country are telling people treatment is “no longer available on the NHS” and sending them to private colleagues instead.

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Patients face a deafness crisis after GPs refused to remove ear waxCredit: Getty Images – Getty

But experts fear this could be “too expensive” for many.

Franki Oliver, of the Royal National Institute for the Deaf, also warned that self-treatment at home could be dangerous.

She said: “Ear wax can sometimes be managed at home but many people need it removed professionally.

“We believe removal should be provided on the NHS when there’s a clinical need but we know many people have been told to get wax removed privately, which isn’t affordable for everyone.”

The RNID said there were “various reasons” why ear cleaning may have been stopped in GP practices and that the pandemic had caused long waiting lists.

Wax usually falls out naturally but can be removed with medical grade olive or almond oil drops.

An NHS spokeswoman said: “Services such as ear wax removal are linked to the transition of certain services from GPs to health and social care providers.

“Some services will be community services and health boards will make their own arrangements for how these are carried out.”

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Source: https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/health/9300280/scotland-deaf-crisis-ear-wax/