Thousands of people in South West London have received quick and convenient help for minor ear problems, thanks to a pilot project which has brought the latest hearing health technology to local pharmacies.
The 12-month pilot has now been extended for a further six months, with the hope of it continuing longer term.
NHS South West London launched the TympaHealth hearing health pilot in 20 pharmacies across Merton, Wandsworth and parts of Richmond in September 2022. The aim was to improve patient care while reducing pressure on GPs and hospitals.
Offering ear checks and microsuction earwax removal in pharmacies, to suitable people with blocked ears or gradual hearing loss, reduces the need for hospital ear, nose and throat (ENT) and audiology appointments. The project lifts pressure on GPs, who refer patients to the service but don’t need to see them first or for a follow up, in most cases.
The project has really excelled with pharmacies filling their weekly appointment slots and patient satisfaction with the service being extremely high.”
Pharmacy staff were trained in the use of the TympaHealth system – which uses microsuction, the technique considered the gold standard when it comes to earwax removal. Each appointment involves otoscopy – examination of the ear using a TympaHealth device with instant digital imaging – and microsuction wax removal, if needed. Hearing assessments are offered where appropriate.
Since the launch of the project, more than 5,000 people have received an ear check. Of them, more than 4,000 had the microsuction procedure and more than 700 received a hearing test. Three quarters of patients had their issue resolved on the day without needing to see their GP or an ENT consultant.
Dr Aditi Shah, GP lead for ENT in South West London, said: “The project has really excelled with pharmacies filling their weekly appointment slots and patient satisfaction with the service being extremely high. It has also upskilled pharmacy staff and expanded their role, so it’s great that we’re able to continue building on this success.”
As Dr Shah explained, where pharmacists detect possible issues, they can seek advice from ENT consultants and audiologists who review the digital images and suggest a management plan.
Miss Victoria Alexander, ENT consultant at St George’s University Hospital NHS Trust and Epsom and St Helier Hospitals NHS Trust added: “The beauty of the project is that pharmacists can get remote advice and guidance from ENT consultants, meaning 74% of patients are able to be discharged directly from the community pharmacy, reducing the numbers who need to be seen in hospital.”
It feels very rewarding following the appointment when patients tell us they are suddenly able to hear after months of people having to speak loudly to them.“
Pharmacist Shree Patel from Krystal Pharmacy in Battersea, Wandsworth also gave his experience of offering the service: “Since the start of the pilot, we have had a huge demand for this new service and received a lot of positive feedback.
“Patients have been really pleased to be seen in a convenient community setting within a week or so of being referred. It has also been great for my dispensing technician to have been upskilled to offer the service. It feels very rewarding following the appointment when patients tell us they are suddenly able to hear after months of people having to speak loudly to them.“
The service is important because earwax build-up affects the hearing, stops hearing aids from working properly and makes it harder for specialists to examine the ear canal to check for more serious issues.
Getting an appointment was easy – I was able to visit the pharmacy a few minutes away from where I live.”
Merton resident, Alice used the service when blocked ears were causing her discomfort. She said: “Getting an appointment was easy – I was able to visit the pharmacy a few minutes away from where I live. I was advised to use softening drops before the appointment so, when the pharmacist checked my ears, and found they were blocked, he could carry out the microsuction straightaway. The whole procedure was quick, painless and a relief to be able to hear properly again.”
Without the project, NHS ear wax removal is inconsistent. A few GP practices offer microsuction but others use the older, less effective irrigation method or refer people with badly blocked ears to hospital, adding to ENT waiting times.
In a survey of 400 people who used the service, more than 95% said they preferred to receive treatment in a pharmacy to a hospital.
Dr Krishan Ramdoo, Founder and CEO, TympaHealth, welcomed the success of the project: “Collaborating with NHS South West London in the development and implementation of the TympaHealth hearing health pathway has been an inspiring journey. Our partnership has been a fantastic example of the power of collaboration. We are immensely proud of our partnership with NHS South West London and the collective impact we have made on improving patient care and outcomes.”