A GP surgery has scrapped ear syringing - instead advising patients to try DIY methods to remove wax.

Ambrose Avenue Surgery in Lexden said waxing patients’ ears was costing £7,000 a year and cash could be better spent elsewhere.

The procedure also took up 492 appointments a year which it said could be put to better use.

But a surgery patient, who the Gazette agreed not to name, said: “The service was previously provided by the healthcare assistant.

“The practice will have to pay a salary whatever they are doing. It is another small but sad decline.

“I wonder if this is a local or national cutback and if it will cost the NHS more in treating ears damaged by patients’ DIY efforts.”

Practice managing partner Sharon Kendall said the practice had for many years continued to offer ear syringing to patients - despite it being “a time consuming and expensive service to offer” - with other practices ceasing to offer it previously.

She added: “As a practice we had to reconsider this service and consider if it was something that could be managed by patients with self care rather than booking an appointment with our practice nurse, which was either ten minutes or 20 minutes depending whether the procedure was for one or both ears.

“We looked at the cost to the practice to provide this service and how it impacted on our available appointments.

“For a year the monetary cost to the practice is in the region of £7,000, with 492 appointments that could have been used for more complex issues.

“We do not offer private patient appointments for ear syringing.

“We looked at alternatives to booking an appointment, of which there are a few, to help with the self-care process of ear issues such as olive oil, ear wax removal kits, ear wash solutions, drops and ear syringing bulbs, products ranging from around £4 to £15 depending on the type of product purchased.”

Mrs Kendall added: “We are sorry we sometimes have to take these decisions.

“They are not made lightly, but with a vast range of over the counter products to help with ear issues we felt that the appointments could be put to more effective clinical use.”