Oral Answers to Questions

Steve McCabe Excerpts

Tuesday 19th April 2022 Commons Chamber

[Steve McCabe (Birmingham, Selly Oak) (Lab)]

4. What recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of access to NHS ear irrigation and microsuction treatments.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Maria Caulfield)]

Ear wax services are the responsibility of local commissioners, who are responsible for meeting local healthcare needs. Depending on a local area’s arrangements, services should be undertaken either at local primary care practices or through referrals to appropriate local NHS services.

[Steve McCabe]

Well, I obviously want to thank the Minister for that answer, but I was recently contacted by a constituent who complained that she was told by her GP surgery that such services were no longer available on the NHS and that she should consider obtaining them privately. This is happening despite recent studies that link the effect of impacted cerumen with cognitive decline and dementia. Will the Minister consider writing to clinical commissioning groups to remind them of their obligations and patient entitlements?

[Maria Caulfield]

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his question. There has been no national removal of ear wax services, which can still be commissioned locally. NICE guidance is clear on the types of services that should be commissioned. Traditional methods of manual ear syringing are no longer offered for safety reasons, but electronic irrigation and microsuction should be being offered. If his local CCG is not commissioning such services, I am happy to meet him and them to discuss why not.