James, 44 - Manchester
James is a GP with around 16 years in general practice, splitting his time between the NHS and private medical work. He trained with wax. to add ear wax removal to the private clinic where he already sees patients in Manchester. This is his story, in his own words.
“It's focused, practical and immediately relevant to clinical practice.”
Tell us a little about yourself and your current experience.
I'm a GP and have been working in general practice for around 16 years.
I split my time between NHS general practice and some private medical work.
One thing I've noticed over recent years is how often patients ask about services that are becoming harder to access through their normal GP surgery, including ear wax removal.
Why did you choose the ear wax removal industry?
For me, it was less about completely retraining and more about adding another useful procedure to the services I can already provide.
Patients regularly present with blocked ears or reduced hearing, and quite often the next step is simply telling them to find a private ear-care provider.
I thought it made sense to be able to offer that service myself.
Why did you choose wax. for your training?
I wanted a course that was clinically focused but also very practical.
I already had experience examining ears, so I wasn't looking for a basic medical course. I wanted proper hands-on experience with the different removal techniques and the equipment used in everyday practice.
wax. looked much more focused on actually performing ear wax removal than some of the alternatives I found.
How did you find the course?
It was very good.
There was enough theory to put everything into context, but most importantly there was plenty of practical training.
I particularly liked being able to compare different removal methods and discuss when one approach might be preferable to another.
What did you learn?
The course refreshed ear anatomy, otoscopy, contraindications and recognition of abnormalities.
The main new skills for me were the practical techniques of microsuction, warm-water irrigation and manual instrumentation.
It also reinforced the importance of selecting patients appropriately rather than assuming every blocked ear should automatically be treated.
Would you recommend wax. training?
Yes.
I think it's particularly useful for GPs and other clinicians who already understand the medical side of ear assessment but want proper training in the procedural side of wax removal.
It's focused, practical and immediately relevant to clinical practice.
What are your plans for the future?
I'm planning to introduce ear wax removal into the private clinic where I already see patients in Manchester.
Rather than launching a separate business, it will become an additional service within my existing practice.
I'll initially allocate a small number of appointments each week and then increase availability depending on demand.
Start your own story
One day of CPD-accredited training with NHS-trained clinicians - all three removal methods, live patients, and the business setup to earn with it.
A CPD-accredited provider, aligned with BSA, NICE and HCPC standards. Every course is taught by NHS-trained ear care clinicians and certified for professional development.
