FOI 2025/1379

I am writing to you under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to request updated information on the commissioning of ear wax removal services by NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board.

Please could you provide me with answers to the questions below:

1. Does the integrated care board currently commission an ear wax removal service or services within primary care or community ear care services, available to all patients registered with GP practices within the integrated care board’s boundary, as per NICE guidance?

2. If a wax removal service in primary or community care is not currently available to all patients, is there a plan to set up such a service in future, or to review the need for this service? This includes the provision of ear wax removal services as part of Neighbourhood Health Services.

3. If a wax removal service is commissioned, how can a patient access this service or services when it is considered clinically necessary and/or self-care advice, if appropriate, has been unsuccessful?

4. If the integrated care board does commission a wax removal service within primary care or community care, please provide the name or names of commissioned providers and their address or addresses.

5. Does the integrated care board utilise TympaHealth in the provision of wax removal services, including within pharmacies, and if so, which types of healthcare professionals offer wax removal using TympaHealth devices or equipment?

6. Does the integrated care board have a policy or guidance on ear wax removal and/or referral pathways for its primary care providers for patients for whom the benefit of ear wax removal is clinically indicated? If the integrated care board has issued such guidance, please provide a copy.

7. Can you provide a copy of any guidance the integrated care board provides to patients and/or clinicians on the self-management of symptomatic ear wax?

8. How many complaints has the integrated care board received from patients about difficulty in accessing or inability to access a wax removal service in the last 24 months?

1. NHS Greater Manchester (NHS GM) does commission an ear wax removal service as part of a hearing loss pathway to all patients registered with GP practices within Greater Manchester.
2. N/A
3. Patients can access this service via GP referral
4. Details of Providers as below. These do not provide a pan GM service, however, there is GM coverage across the range of providers below:

• Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
• Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust
• Tameside & Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust
• Beacon Medical Services
• Scrivens
• Specsavers

Addresses for the above providers can be found at:

Any Qualified Provider for Adult Hearing for Greater Manchester CCGs – Contracts Finder

Tameside Locality also have a locally commissioned service via their Primary Care Networks for all patients registered with a GP in Tameside.  Patients can access this service via their registered GP practice.

5. No
6. No
7. No
8. From May 2024 – May 2025, NHS GM have received 7 overall contacts from patients (including Complaints, MP enquiries, and Patient Advice and Liaison contacts) about difficulty in accessing or inability to access a wax removal service. Less than 5 of the contacts received were Complaints.

Due to the low numbers involved (where patient data is 5 or less <5) we consider the actual exact data to be exempt under section 40(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 as the disclosure of this information may lead to the identification of individuals. This exemption is not subject to the public interest test.