Is ear wax removal free on the NHS? What to do about a blocked ear

A blocked ear is one of those problems that sounds minor until you’ve got one. Everything sounds muffled, your own voice booms, and you keep tilting your head hoping it’ll pop. At our Summertown and Botley counters, the next question is almost always the same: “My GP says they don’t do ear syringing any more. What do I do?”

Here’s the honest picture: what the NHS offers now, what you can safely try at home, and when it’s worth having the wax removed.

This is general information, not a diagnosis. If you’re unsure what’s causing your symptoms, get your ears checked.

The short answer

  • Earwax usually falls out on its own. When it doesn’t, the NHS recommends starting with a few drops of olive or almond oil for several days.
  • Not all GP surgeries remove earwax any more. Some do, some refer you to another local NHS service, and sometimes the only option is paying privately.
  • Never use cotton buds or ear candles. The NHS says cotton buds push wax further in, and there’s no evidence candles work.
  • If your ear is still blocked after home treatment, microsuction clears it quickly and without water. At MediPill it’s £50 for one ear or £80 for both, at our Summertown and Botley branches.

How do you know it’s earwax?

The NHS lists the usual signs of earwax build-up:

  • hearing loss
  • earache, or a feeling that your ears are blocked
  • ringing or buzzing in your ears (tinnitus)
  • vertigo, feeling dizzy and sick

Other things can cause the same feelings. A cold can leave your ears blocked for a while, and so can an ear infection. If you’re not sure what’s going on, a quick look with an otoscope settles it. That’s what our £15 ear wax inspection is for.

What you can try at home first

The NHS advice for earwax build-up is simple and cheap:

  1. Lie on your side with the affected ear facing up.
  2. Put 2 to 3 drops of olive or almond oil in your ear. Don’t use almond oil if you’re allergic to almonds.
  3. Stay lying on your side for 5 to 10 minutes.
  4. Repeat 3 to 4 times a day, for 3 to 5 days.

Over about two weeks, lumps of earwax should fall out and your symptoms should improve. A pharmacist can also recommend ear drops that help dissolve the wax.

Don’t use drops if you have a hole in your eardrum (a perforated eardrum). If you’ve had one before, or you’re not sure, ask a pharmacist first.

What not to do

  • No cotton buds, fingers or anything else in the ear. The NHS says this pushes the wax in and makes it worse. In our experience it’s the single most common reason people end up needing it removed.
  • Skip ear candles and “ear vacuums”. The NHS says there’s no evidence they get rid of earwax.

Is ear wax removal free on the NHS?

Sometimes, but you can’t count on it. The NHS says plainly that not all GP surgeries remove earwax build-up. Those that do might flush it out with water, remove it with microsuction, or scrape it out with a small instrument.

If your surgery doesn’t offer it, a doctor may be able to refer you to another local NHS service. Or, as the NHS puts it, you might have to pay to have it done privately. That’s the gap most of our ear patients fall into.

The NHS suggests seeing a nurse at your GP surgery if:

  • your symptoms haven’t cleared after 5 days of home treatment, or
  • your ear is badly blocked and you can’t hear anything, because an untreated blockage can lead to infection

How microsuction works, and what it costs

Microsuction is the water-free way to remove wax. A pharmacist examines your ear, then lifts the wax out with fine, gentle suction. There’s no water and no syringing, and nothing is pushed deeper. A standard appointment takes about 30 minutes, for one ear or both.

At MediPill:

  • Ear wax inspection: £15. Both ears are examined, and you’re told honestly whether removal is needed.
  • Microsuction: £50 for one ear, £80 for both.
  • Urgent same-day removal: £64 for one ear, £94 for both. These can’t be booked online, so call the branch.
  • Earache or a suspected ear infection: we can assess it and, where appropriate, treat it, with no GP appointment. That’s £35.

Ear appointments run at our Summertown and Botley branches. Full details and booking are on our ear wax removal page.

Can you stop it coming back?

Not completely. The NHS points out that earwax is there to protect your ears from dirt and germs. But regularly using ear drops, or olive or almond oil, helps soften the wax so it falls out on its own. If you’re someone whose ears block every few months, that routine is worth keeping up.

When to get medical advice instead

Earwax is a nuisance, not an emergency. But don’t assume every blocked ear is wax. If you have severe pain, discharge or bleeding from the ear, a high temperature, or hearing that has gone suddenly, speak to your GP or call NHS 111 rather than trying to treat it yourself.

Common questions

How much is ear wax removal in Oxford? At MediPill, microsuction is £50 for one ear or £80 for both, at Summertown or Botley. If you’re not sure you need it, the £15 inspection tells you first. Other clinics set their own prices.

Do I need to soften the wax before microsuction? Ask when you book. The pharmacist will tell you whether using drops or oil beforehand is helpful in your case.

Does microsuction hurt? Most people find it comfortable. You’ll hear the suction, and some people feel a slight tickle or pressure.

Can I just walk in? Standard appointments are booked online. For urgent same-day removal, call Summertown on 01865 558 348 or Botley on 01865 247 023.

Do I need a GP referral? No. You can book directly.

Getting your ears checked in Oxford

Book on our ear wax removal page, or get in touch with a question first.

Sources

  1. Earwax build-up – NHS. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/earwax-build-up/ (accessed 23 September 2026)
  2. Ear infections – NHS. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/ear-infections/ (accessed 23 September 2026)

Written by Zain Rajabali, Superintendent Pharmacist – GPhC #2219769
Medically reviewed by Zain Rajabali, Superintendent Pharmacist, Independent Prescriber – GPhC #2219769
Last reviewed: 23 September 2026 · Next review due: September 2027

This article is general health information and is not a substitute for a consultation. It does not diagnose the cause of your symptoms. Whether ear wax removal or treatment is appropriate is decided at an assessment with a pharmacist.