To ask the Minister of Health for an update on the availability of ear syringing and ear vacuuming services at GP surgeries.

Under the terms of their contract all GPs are required to provide essential primary medical services to their registered patients. As well as providing essential services GP Practices can also contract with the Board to provide additional services to their patients, for which they would receive additional remuneration; there is no obligation on GP Practices to provide those additional services.

Neither ear syringing or ear vacuuming are regarded as essential services and therefore GP Practices are not required to provide those services unless they have specifically agreed, as part of their contract, to do so.

In 2018 the National Institute for Clinical Health Excellence (NICE) issued guideline 98 which recommended that the manual syringing method should no longer be used.

It recommended that GPs should offer ear wax removal using an electronic irrigator, micro-suction or another method of earwax removal (such as manual removal using a probe) for adults in primary or community ear care services, if the practitioner, such as a community nurse or audiologist:

• has training and expertise in using the method to remove earwax;

• is aware of any contraindications to the method, and

• the correct equipment is available.

If the GP is not able to provide this service because they do not meet the NICE recommendations they would make the necessary referrals to ENT/Audiology in a Health and Social Care Trust, for which there will be no charge. However, rather than wait, patients may prefer to seek, and pay for, private treatment.