Our most popular service is microsuction ear wax removal.
See our full range of ear care services.
If your question isn’t answered here, please contact us and we’ll be happy to help.
Book an appointment when you’re ready.
Our guide on what to expect at your first appointment answers many common pre-booking questions.
Read our guide to earwax build-up: causes, symptoms and when to seek help.
You can book by calling us on 07943 716490 or by visiting earrescue.uk and using our online booking. We do not require a GP referral. Simply get in touch and we will find you a convenient appointment, whether at our clinic in Boston or via a home visit.
Ear Rescue is based in Boston, Lincolnshire. We serve patients across Boston and the wider Lincolnshire area. We also offer home visits for patients who cannot travel, covering Boston and surrounding areas — please contact us to confirm whether we cover your location.
Our current clinic hours are Thursday and Friday 9:00am to 5:30pm, and Saturday 9:00am to 12:30pm. We are closed Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday. Please check our website or call us for the most up-to-date availability, as we may occasionally offer additional appointments. Home visits may be available at different times — please discuss this when you book.
Please visit our website at earrescue.uk or call us on 07943 716490 for current pricing. We are transparent about our fees and are always happy to discuss what is included before you commit to booking. Home visits are priced to include travel within our service area.
Absolutely. You are very welcome to bring a friend, family member or carer, and for children we always encourage a parent or guardian to be present throughout. If you have any specific accessibility requirements, please let us know when you book and we will do our best to accommodate you.
We aim to offer appointments promptly. Availability changes regularly, so the best thing to do is call us or check our online booking at earrescue.uk for current availability. If you are experiencing significant symptoms, please mention this when you get in touch and we will do our best to see you as quickly as possible.
Yes. For patients who are known to produce wax regularly — including hearing aid users and older adults — we are happy to arrange regular maintenance appointments, typically every three to six months. This approach catches wax early, before it becomes a significant blockage, and is both more comfortable and more effective than waiting until symptoms are severe.
No. Cotton buds should not be used inside the ear canal. Despite their packaging sometimes suggesting otherwise, they almost always push wax deeper into the canal rather than removing it, contributing to compaction over time. The ear canal is delicate and the eardrum can be damaged more easily than people realise. The same applies to any other object — fingers, hairpins, pen lids, ear candles — none of these belong inside the ear canal.
No. Ear candles — hollow candles placed in the ear and lit at the far end — have no clinical evidence to support their effectiveness and carry a genuine risk of burns, wax deposits from the candle itself (which can worsen blockage), and fire. They are not a recognised medical treatment and we would strongly advise against using them.
There are certain symptoms that require prompt medical attention rather than ear wax removal. Please contact your GP urgently, or go to A&E if symptoms are severe, if you experience:
If you are unsure whether your symptoms warrant urgent care, please call us and describe what you are experiencing — we will advise you honestly on the best course of action, even if that means directing you elsewhere.
Yes, when carried out by a trained and experienced clinician using appropriate equipment. At Ear Rescue, all treatment is preceded by a thorough assessment, and we only proceed when we are confident that the method we are using is appropriate for your individual ear. We follow clinical best-practice guidelines and hold the relevant professional qualifications and registrations. No clinical procedure is entirely without any risk, but professional ear wax removal, done correctly, is a very safe treatment.
Jo England is a registered nurse with over 25 years of NHS and private healthcare experience. She holds specialist training in ear care and wax removal, including microsuction and irrigation. She is also the founder of Ear Rescue and brings a personal understanding of hearing loss to her practice — having been born deaf and regained 90% of her hearing. All practitioners at Ear Rescue are appropriately trained and qualified for the treatments they carry out.
Hearing aid users are more prone to wax build-up than non-users, because the device sits inside the canal and both stimulates wax production and blocks natural migration. As a general guideline, we recommend an ear health check every three to six months for hearing aid users — though some individuals benefit from more frequent visits, and others find every six months is sufficient. We will advise you on a suitable interval based on what we find at your first appointment.
Yes. Microsuction is safe and appropriate for children when carried out by an experienced clinician. It is often the preferred method for children because it is dry, precise, and quick. We work gently and at each child’s pace, always with parents present and involved. We are experienced in making the appointment feel as calm and manageable as possible — most children find it much less daunting than they anticipated.
Absolutely. Our home visit service is designed exactly for situations like this. We can visit patients at home anywhere within Boston and the wider Lincolnshire area, bringing the same equipment and professional standards as a clinic appointment. Please call us to discuss your parent’s situation and we will arrange something suitable.
Yes. We offer dedicated care home ear care visits for residential and nursing settings. Ear wax build-up is extremely common in older adults and can significantly affect communication, engagement, and quality of life — sometimes in ways that are mistaken for cognitive decline. We can arrange scheduled visits to see multiple residents in a single visit, working sensitively and at a pace that suits each individual. Please get in touch to discuss how we might support your home.
If your tinnitus is caused by or worsened by wax build-up, clearing the wax can significantly reduce or even resolve the ringing. However, tinnitus has many possible causes, and wax is only one of them. If you have persistent tinnitus that does not improve after wax removal, or if you have had tinnitus for some time without any obvious wax-related symptoms, it is worth discussing this with your GP or an audiologist. We will always mention if we think further investigation is appropriate.
Yes. Ear wax removal — whether by microsuction or gentle irrigation — is safe during pregnancy. It is also worth knowing that hormonal changes during pregnancy can sometimes affect wax production. If you are unsure, please mention your pregnancy when you book and we will be happy to discuss any specific considerations with you.
In 2020, NHS England guidance effectively removed routine ear wax removal from what GP practices are expected to provide, classifying it as a low-priority procedure in primary care. Many practices no longer offer it at all, and those that do often have long waiting times or strict criteria. This has left a great many patients without a clear NHS route to treatment. Private specialist ear care — such as the service we offer at Ear Rescue — has stepped in to fill this gap. No GP referral is needed, and we aim to offer prompt appointments. Please do not simply put up with blocked ears because your GP cannot help — contact us directly.
Most appointments take between 20 and 40 minutes, including the assessment. The wax removal itself is often quicker — sometimes just a few minutes per ear once we have a clear picture of what we are dealing with. More complex cases, or those involving significant impaction, may take a little longer. We always allow enough time to do the job properly.
If muffled hearing was caused by wax, the improvement is often immediate — the moment the blockage clears, many patients describe a sudden clarity that can feel quite remarkable. Some patients take a little longer to adjust, particularly if the ears have been blocked for some time. If your hearing does not return to what you would expect after wax removal, this may indicate an underlying hearing issue that warrants further investigation — we will always discuss this with you.
Yes, and this can sometimes feel slightly disconcerting. Your ears have likely been blocked for some time, and once clear, sounds can seem louder or sharper than you are used to. This is perfectly normal and settles within a short time as your brain readjusts. Some patients also notice a very brief period of mild dizziness as the inner ear readjusts. If any unusual sensation persists beyond a day or two, please get in touch.
In most cases, very little. We will give you personalised aftercare advice at your appointment, but general guidelines include:
If we have recommended a follow-up, please make sure to book it
Occasionally, particularly with very hard or deeply impacted wax, a single appointment may not be sufficient to clear the ear completely. If this happens, we will explain what we found, what was achieved, and what the best next step is. In some cases, a further period of softening drops followed by a second appointment is the most comfortable and effective approach.
There is no way to stop ear wax production entirely — nor would you want to. But there are simple steps that reduce the chance of build-up becoming a problem:
Ear wax — cerumen, to give it its clinical name — is a natural substance produced by glands in the outer part of the ear canal. It is made up of dead skin cells, secretions from two types of gland, and trapped dust and debris. Far from being something unpleasant, ear wax performs several important functions: it traps particles before they can reach the eardrum, it has mild antibacterial properties that help protect against infection, and it keeps the delicate skin of the canal moisturised and healthy. In short, ear wax is your ear looking after itself.
Not at all. Ear wax is a completely normal, healthy part of how the ear works and is produced by everyone regardless of how clean they are. In fact, trying too hard to clean the ears — particularly with cotton buds — is one of the most common causes of ear wax problems. The ear is self-cleaning in most people, and interference can do more harm than good.
The amount of wax each person produces is largely determined by their individual physiology — the same way some people sweat more than others. Factors that tend to increase wax production or accumulation include:
No. Most people’s ears clear themselves perfectly well without any intervention, and there is no need to routinely remove wax that is not causing symptoms. Treatment is only needed when wax has built up to the point where it causes discomfort, reduced hearing, tinnitus, earache, or other symptoms. If your ears feel fine and you can hear normally, they almost certainly do not need cleaning.
Common symptoms include:
It is worth noting that some of these symptoms can also be caused by infection or other conditions, so a professional assessment is always the safest route to an accurate answer.
Impacted wax is wax that has been pushed or compacted so far back into the ear canal that it presses against the eardrum or forms a firm plug that the ear cannot clear on its own. It tends to be harder and drier than normal wax, often as a result of cotton bud use or the presence of a hearing aid. Impacted wax typically causes more significant symptoms and usually requires professional removal rather than responding well to drops alone.
Yes, it can. The ear plays a role in balance as well as hearing, and a significant wax build-up pressing on the eardrum can sometimes cause mild dizziness or a sense of imbalance. In most cases, this resolves once the wax is removed. If dizziness is severe or persistent, or if it is accompanied by other symptoms such as nausea or vomiting, it is important to seek medical advice promptly.
Microsuction is widely regarded as the gold standard method for ear wax removal. The clinician uses magnifying loupes — specialist glasses that provide a highly magnified, clear view of the ear canal — and a fine, low-pressure suction device to gently lift wax out of the ear. Because the clinician can see exactly what they are doing throughout the procedure, it is extremely controlled and precise. Microsuction is a completely dry technique — no water is used at any point.
Ear irrigation is the modern, safe successor to the old-fashioned ear syringing that many people remember from their GP. Rather than a high-pressure metal syringe, today’s irrigation uses an electronic irrigator that delivers a controlled, gentle flow of warm water into the ear canal to loosen and flush out softened wax. The pressure and temperature are carefully regulated, and the experience is comfortable for most patients. It is a very different proposition from the procedure many people remember with discomfort.
Neither is universally better — the right choice depends on your individual ear health, the nature of your wax, and your personal circumstances. As a general guide:
At Ear Rescue, we assess every patient individually and recommend the most appropriate method based on what we find — not a one-size-fits-all approach.
No — professional ear wax removal carried out by a trained clinician should not be painful. You may feel a gentle sensation of movement or pressure, and microsuction produces a soft rushing sound that some patients find surprising at first. If anything feels uncomfortable at any point, you simply tell us and we stop immediately. The pain many people associate with ear syringing relates to the old high-pressure metal syringes, which are no longer used.
An endoscopic ear examination uses a small high-definition camera attached to a slender probe to provide a magnified, real-time image of the ear canal and eardrum, displayed on a screen. Unlike a standard otoscope, this allows you as the patient to see exactly what we see — which many patients find enormously reassuring. It provides exceptional clarity for assessment, allows us to document findings over time, and ensures that any treatment decision is based on the best possible information.
An ear health check is a thorough professional assessment of the health of your ears, carried out with an otoscope or endoscope. It involves looking at the ear canal and eardrum, checking for wax, signs of infection, perforation, or other concerns, and discussing your hearing history. It is the foundation of everything we do — we never proceed with treatment without first understanding what is happening in your ear.
Yes. We offer specialist ear wax removal for children, carried out gently and at a pace that suits each child. Children’s ear canals are smaller and more delicate than adults’, and treatment requires care and experience. We take time to explain what is happening, involve parents throughout, and ensure the experience is as calm and positive as possible. Microsuction is generally our preferred method for children.
Yes. We provide home visit ear care for patients who find it difficult to travel to the clinic — including older adults, those with mobility challenges, people who are housebound, and individuals with dementia for whom familiar surroundings make a significant difference. We bring the same clinical-grade equipment and professional standards to every home visit. We also offer dedicated visits to care homes and residential settings.
For most patients — particularly those coming for ear irrigation — we recommend using softening drops for three to five days before the appointment. Olive oil drops are gentle and effective. Lie on your side, apply a few drops warmed to body temperature into the ear canal, and hold the position for a few minutes. Do this twice daily in the days leading up to your visit.
Please do not use drops if you have a history of perforated eardrums, grommets, or recent ear infections — let us know when you book and we will advise you on whether drops are suitable for you.
Please let us know before your appointment. A history of grommets, perforated eardrums, or ear surgery changes which treatment method is appropriate for you. Ear irrigation is not suitable for patients with perforated eardrums — microsuction, which involves no water, is the safe alternative. We will always ask about your medical history before proceeding with any treatment.
In the vast majority of cases, yes. Ear wax removal does not affect your ability to drive. Very occasionally, some patients experience a brief period of mild dizziness immediately after treatment as the inner ear adjusts to the change in pressure — this usually passes within a few minutes. If you are concerned, or if you know you are prone to dizziness, you may wish to bring someone with you. We will always check that you feel well before you leave.
No referral is needed. You can book directly with Ear Rescue by calling 07943 716490 or visiting earrescue.uk. Simply tell us what you are experiencing and a little about your ear history when you get in touch, and we will book you in at a convenient time.
When you get in touch, it is helpful to mention:
If you have ear pain, discharge, fever, or sudden significant hearing loss, it is important to see your GP first, as these can be signs of infection that require antibiotic treatment. Ear wax removal is not appropriate when an active infection is present. Once the infection has been treated, we can then assess whether wax removal is needed. If you are unsure, please call us and describe your symptoms — we will advise you honestly on the best course of action.
