Sarah, 42 - Manchester

Tell us a little about yourself and your current experience.

I'm a registered nurse and I've worked in healthcare for around 17 years, mainly in community nursing and elderly care. I currently work three days a week for the NHS, so I already spend a lot of time working independently with patients in their own homes.

Over the last couple of years I'd started thinking about doing something for myself alongside nursing. I didn't necessarily want to leave the NHS completely, but I wanted a bit more control over my time and the opportunity to build an additional income around my existing experience.

Why did you choose to move into ear wax removal?

It was something I kept coming across through work. You meet so many patients who struggle with blocked ears, reduced hearing or who have been waiting to get an appointment somewhere.

I liked ear wax removal because it's still very patient focused and clinical, but it's also a service you can realistically build into your own small business.

I wanted something where I could use the skills I already had rather than completely retraining in something unrelated.

Why did you choose wax. for your training?

I looked at quite a few training providers before booking.

wax. stood out because it seemed very focused on actually preparing people to go out and provide the service afterwards, rather than just giving you a certificate.

The website explained the different removal methods, the practical training and the business side really clearly. I also liked that the course wasn't aimed only at one type of healthcare professional.

It felt much more like, “we're going to teach you how to actually do this properly,” which was what I was looking for.

How did you find the course?

I genuinely really enjoyed it.

I was probably more nervous than I needed to be before attending, particularly about the practical part, but the atmosphere was really relaxed.

Everything was broken down step by step and there was plenty of opportunity to ask questions.

The practical training was definitely the most valuable part for me because you actually get to examine ears, identify different types of wax and then work through the appropriate removal technique.

By the end of the course I felt completely different compared with how I felt walking in on the first morning.

What did you learn?

Obviously the main thing was learning how to safely remove ear wax, including microsuction, irrigation and manual techniques.

But there was much more to it than simply removing wax.

We covered otoscopy, ear anatomy, recognising different conditions, contraindications, infection control, patient assessment and when somebody should be referred instead of treated.

One of the biggest things I took away from the course was understanding that a good ear wax practitioner isn't just somebody who can remove wax. You need to be able to properly examine the ear and know when you should and shouldn't treat someone.

We also discussed setting up the service, equipment, insurance, pricing and different ways of running the business, which was really useful.

Would you recommend wax. training?

Absolutely.

Especially to another nurse or healthcare professional who has been thinking about doing something independently but doesn't really know where to start.

I think having a healthcare background definitely helps, but the course gives you a really structured way of turning that experience into a new service.

For me, the biggest difference was confidence. I came away feeling like this was something I could genuinely go and build.

What are your plans for the future?

Initially I'm going to continue nursing three days a week and build the ear wax business around that.

My plan is to start mainly as a mobile service around South Manchester and Stockport, because visiting patients at home is something I'm already very comfortable doing.

Once I've built up a regular client base, I'd like to rent a treatment room for one or two days each week as well.

Longer term, I'd love for the ear care business to allow me to reduce my NHS hours even further.

I'm not looking to build a huge clinic or employ lots of people. For me it's about creating a professional little business that gives me more flexibility and something that belongs to me.

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One day of CPD-accredited training with NHS-trained clinicians - all three removal methods, live patients, and the business setup to earn with it.