Written question WQ86347
- Asked by
- Janet Finch-SaundersConservative
- To be answered by
- Minister for Health and Social Services
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 6 days
Question
What steps is the Minister taking to ensure that every health board will take local action to ensure that everyone in Wales has access to free earwax management services in a primary care setting?
Answer
Answered by Minister for Health and Social Services
Wax management services are provided through the NHS, and no one should expect to have to pay for this service, although people may choose to seek private treatment if they so wish.
The new NHS Wales pathway, with national clinical standards for the delivery of a wax management service, was approved in September 2020. The new service is already working well in Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board and Swansea Bay University Health Board. These two health boards are sharing good practices and working with the other health boards to support implementation across Wales.
Once the pathway is in place, patients will be referred to a primary care audiology service where it will be performed free of charge, by Advanced Audiology Practitioners, freeing up unnecessary patient appointments in primary and secondary care.
Whilst in some parts of Wales, wax management services will continue to be delivered through GP practices, the same standards will apply. All NHS Wales key stakeholders, including secondary care ENT departments, Primary Care Clusters and GP practices have been informed of the pathway and work is underway to encourage full implementation.
In addition, Welsh Government has worked with all stakeholders to produce information leaflets for people living with troublesome ear wax, which explains ways of preventing or managing their condition. The link to the self-management leaflet is below: