Joanne, 48 - Glasgow

Tell us a little about yourself and your current experience.

I've worked as a healthcare assistant for just over 20 years, mainly supporting older people in hospital and community settings. I currently work in Glasgow and a big part of my job is helping patients with day-to-day care, so I'm very used to speaking to people who may be anxious, frail or need a little extra reassurance.

I've always enjoyed the patient side of healthcare, but I'd reached the point where I wanted to build something of my own as well. I wasn't looking to completely change careers - I wanted to use the experience I already had.

Why did you choose the ear wax removal industry?

I kept seeing how much of an impact blocked ears could have on older patients. Someone can appear withdrawn or struggle with conversations simply because they aren't hearing properly.

Ear wax removal appealed to me because it's a relatively focused service where you can sometimes make a noticeable difference for somebody very quickly.

It also felt like something I could realistically run myself without needing a huge clinic or a large team.

Why did you choose wax. for your training?

I spent quite a bit of time looking at different courses online.

What attracted me to wax. was how practical the training looked. I didn't want to sit through an online course and then be expected to work things out myself afterwards.

I also liked that wax. talked about the whole journey - examining the ear, choosing the correct removal method, knowing when not to treat and then actually setting up the service afterwards.

It felt designed for people who genuinely wanted to go out and use the qualification.

How did you find the course?

I loved it.

I was nervous at the beginning because I hadn't done anything like microsuction before, but the trainers made everyone feel comfortable very quickly.

Being able to practise properly and ask questions as we went along made a huge difference. Nothing felt rushed and I never felt silly asking something.

By the end of the training I was amazed at how much more confident I felt.

What did you learn?

We covered much more than I expected.

I learned how to examine an ear properly using an otoscope, recognise normal anatomy and identify situations where somebody shouldn't be treated.

Then we covered microsuction, warm-water irrigation and manual instrumentation, which are the techniques included within the wax. Safe Ear Wax Removal Training certificate.

We also covered infection control, patient safety, contraindications and what to do when something doesn't look right.

For me, one of the most important things was learning that you don't have to remove wax just because somebody has booked an appointment. Knowing when not to treat gave me a lot of confidence.

Would you recommend wax. training?

Definitely.

I'd especially recommend it to healthcare assistants who might think they aren't experienced enough to start something independently.

You already have so many useful skills from working with patients. The course then gives you the specialist ear-care knowledge and practical skills you need.

I came away thinking, “I can actually do this.”

What are your plans for the future?

I'm going to start the business as a mobile ear wax removal service around Glasgow and Renfrewshire.

Home visits really suit my background because I'm comfortable working with elderly and less-mobile patients, and it means I can start without the expense of taking on permanent premises.

My plan is to work one or two days each week alongside my current job. As the customer base grows, I'd like to rent a treatment room for one regular clinic day each week as well.

Longer term, I'd love the business to become my main job.

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.