Ear Wax Removal in Hove
Ear Wax Removal in Hove
Microsuction ear wax removal with a free ear exam, a short drive from Hove up to Coldean. No GP referral, no waiting list, and no charge if there is no wax.
Professional microsuction, no GP referral and no waiting list.
Brighton Clinics is a quick drive from Hove, based at Coldean Pharmacy just off the Old Shoreham Road, around 5 miles and 15 minutes from the town centre. No GP referral, no audiology waiting list, and free parking when you arrive.
Hove's seafront squares and Palmeira Square area have a notably older population than central Brighton, so long-term hearing aid wear is one of the biggest reasons local patients book in, alongside children clearing summer swimming ears.
Call 01273 605657 to arrange a same-week appointment.
Where can I get ear wax removal near Hove?
Brighton Clinics is a short hop from Hove, based at Coldean Pharmacy, 16 Beatty Avenue, Coldean, Brighton BN1 9ED, about 5 miles and 15 minutes away via the Old Shoreham Road. There is no GP letter to wait for and no audiology list to join. Book through cal.com or call 01273 605657 and we will usually see you within the week.
Hove has a different feel to its neighbour: leafy Victorian squares, seafront mansion blocks along Kingsway, and a settled, somewhat older population than central Brighton's student streets. Long-term hearing aid use is common around Palmeira Square and the seafront, and we also see a steady run of children who have picked up a summer ear infection after swimming off Hove Lawns.
Clinical review for this page comes from the pharmacist team at Brighton Clinics: Superintendent Pharmacist Brijesh Thaker (GPhC 2079034) working with Kathryn Harries (GPhC 2057551), drawing on NHS advice on earwax build-up and the NICE Clinical Knowledge Summary for earwax. Brighton Clinics holds GPhC pharmacy registration number 9010023.
What actually happens during microsuction?
Under a surgical microscope, a clinician gets a magnified, well-lit view straight down the ear canal and draws the wax out with gentle suction, rather than flushing it with water. Because the process is entirely visual, nothing is done blind, and treatment stops the moment anything other than straightforward wax is seen. It is the same equipment used in hospital audiology departments; private access simply means skipping a wait that can now run into months.
Why does ear wax build up in the first place?
Cerumen is a normal secretion meant to migrate out of the ear on its own. Build-up happens when something interrupts that process, and in Hove a few patterns turn up most often.
- Long-term hearing aid wear, especially among Hove's larger retired population, where the mould sits against the natural migration path.
- Cotton bud use, still the most common single habit behind a hard, compacted plug.
- Earbuds and in-ear monitors, increasingly common among younger Hove residents.
- A narrower or curved canal shape, largely down to genetics.
- Skin conditions such as eczema in the ear canal, which can thicken wax and slow its clearance.
When does wax actually need treating?
There is no need to treat wax you cannot feel. Book in for hearing that has turned muffled, a blocked or full sensation, itching or mild discomfort, tinnitus that is new or worse, or a hearing aid that has begun whistling or losing clarity. Ear pain together with fever or discharge is a different picture, usually infection rather than wax, and deserves a proper look rather than suction. Come in regardless, the examination costs nothing.
How does microsuction compare with syringing, irrigation and ear candling?
Microsuction
The current standard for professional wax removal: dry, magnified and controlled throughout, which is why it suits nearly everyone, including patients with a history of ear surgery.
Syringing
Water forced into the canal by hand, working blind throughout. Withdrawn from routine NHS use around 2010 because of the risk of pushing wax deeper. We do not perform it.
Irrigation
A pressure-controlled, electronic version of syringing, still wet and blind, and unsuitable if you have a perforated eardrum.
Ear candling
A treatment with no supporting evidence and a real burn risk. Health bodies advise against it; we mention it only to steer people away from it.
Why doesn't the NHS remove ear wax any more?
A 2019 change in NHS England commissioning guidance took ear wax removal out of routine general practice and handed it to audiology instead. The practical result has been long waits: audiology wax appointments now take months to come through across most of Sussex, and many GP surgeries no longer stock the equipment at all. Nothing about the clinical picture changed, only where you can get seen quickly. Anyone happy to wait can still ask their GP for an audiology referral.
What happens at your appointment?
Set aside about 20 minutes, or 30 if it is your first visit. We begin with a short conversation about your ears and a look inside both with an otoscope, at no charge, and if there is no wax that is as far as it goes. Where there is wax, microsuction takes roughly five to ten minutes per ear; the sound is noticeable, similar to a small vacuum close to your ear, though the sensation itself is mild. We close with a check that both ears are clear.
Looking after your ears afterwards
Avoid getting water in your ears for the rest of the day, and expect hearing to feel clearer straight away. If wax builds up quickly for you, stop reaching for cotton buds, add a few drops of olive oil once a week to keep the canal supple, and if you wear hearing aids daily, book a check every six months instead of waiting until it whistles again.
Why do so many Hove patients end up needing microsuction?
Hove's population skews older than central Brighton's, and it shows in the waiting room. A large share of the patients we see from Church Road, Palmeira Square and the seafront wear hearing aids and know from experience that a build-up creeps up quietly until the aid starts to whistle or sound flat. We also see plenty of children after summer swimming at Hove Lawns or the King Alfred, and younger professionals commuting into Brighton or London whose earbuds do the same job a hearing aid mould does for their grandparents.
How do I get to the clinic from Hove?
The most direct route is east along the Old Shoreham Road (A270) through Brighton, joining the Lewes Road and continuing north towards Falmer before turning onto Coldean Lane. From nearer the seafront, cutting up through Dyke Road Avenue to the A27 bypass works just as well, leaving at the Falmer and Moulsecoomb junction. Either way it is around 15 minutes. Hove station has direct trains to Brighton if you would rather not drive, and there is free patient parking once you arrive. Brighton Clinics, Coldean Pharmacy, 16 Beatty Avenue, BN1 9ED.
Ear wax removal near Hove
Brighton Clinics is not only a Hove clinic: the same team runs microsuction pages for Portslade, Brighton and Shoreham-by-Sea, plus a travel clinic and a weight loss clinic based at the same Coldean pharmacy. For the full picture of what the ear service covers, visit the ear health hub.
What's included in your microsuction appointment.
Free consultation and ear exam, both ears treated if needed, pre- and post-procedure checks, and aftercare advice. If there is no wax, there is no charge.
Free consultation and ear exam
Every appointment starts with a free consultation and an otoscopic examination of both ears. We confirm it is wax, and rule out infection, perforation or anything that needs ENT instead, before we touch anything.
Microsuction, not syringing
Gentle, dry, controlled suction under direct vision. No water, no irrigation, no flushing, nothing gets pushed further down the canal.
No wax, no charge
If we look in your ears and there is no wax to remove, you do not pay for the procedure. You leave with an explanation and, where appropriate, the right referral route.
One visit, both ears
Most patients are seen and cleared in a single appointment, usually around 20 minutes from sitting down to walking out.
Trained clinicians, ENT-grade equipment
Carried out by trained clinicians using a professional suction unit and binocular microscope, the same technique used in hospital ENT outpatient clinics.
No GP referral needed
Self-refer directly. No GP letter, no audiology waiting list. Call 01273 605657 to book.
How it works
Three steps from blocked to clear.
Free consultation and exam
We talk through your symptoms and look in both ears with an otoscope to confirm it is wax, and to rule out anything that needs ENT rather than suction. No wax, no charge.
Microsuction
Using a binocular microscope and a fine suction wand, a trained clinician lifts the wax out gently under direct vision. No water, no syringing. Most ears clear in 5 to 10 minutes each.
Walk out clear
We re-check both ears, show you what came out if you would like to see, and run through simple aftercare. Hearing is usually back the moment the canal clears.
Rated 4.8 on Google, from 93 reviews
We only recommend what you actually need, and we will tell you if it is free on the NHS.
Getting to 16 Beatty Avenue from Hove
From Hove, north on Sackville Road and the A2038 to the A27, then off at Coldean for Coldean Lane and Beatty Avenue. Free patient parking on-site.
Clinically reviewed by Brijesh Thaker, IP, GPhC 2079034
Superintendent Pharmacist at Brighton Clinics (Coldean Pharmacy) in Coldean, Brighton, and an independent prescriber. Responsible for clinical governance across the travel, ear wax microsuction and weight-management services.
Common questions from Hove patients.
Yes, it is considered the safest professional option for anyone who depends on a hearing aid. There is no water involved, so there is no risk of moisture reaching the electronics, and the clinician works entirely under a microscope, watching the suction tip the whole time rather than working blind. Most Hove patients who wear aids daily find it a quick, uneventful visit.
Not usually. It can feel a little strange, a cool sensation from the airflow and a noise that sounds close and loud, but genuine pain is unusual and would prompt us to stop and look again. If anything feels sore rather than just odd, tell the clinician straightaway so they can check for infection or an eardrum problem instead.
Most Hove patients manage somewhere between six and eighteen months before wax builds up again, though hearing aid wearers often sit at the shorter end of that range because the mould interferes with the ear's natural clearance. We will give you a realistic estimate based on what your ears look like on the day rather than a generic figure.
Only if your wax looks particularly hard or tightly packed, in which case a few nights of drops beforehand softens it and speeds up the appointment. It is not a requirement for every visit, and plenty of people, especially those with softer, more regular wax, do not need to bother with it at all.
It just means we pay close attention to the mould and the receiver, since wax tends to collect exactly where the aid sits. Removing it usually improves how the aid sounds immediately, clearing whistling or muffled output, and we are happy to give simple tips on spacing out future appointments if you are a frequent aid wearer.
No, one covers it. Wax in either ear, or both, is cleared during the same visit, and the time we quote for microsuction already assumes treating a pair rather than a single ear, so there is nothing extra to book.
We consider each child individually, since young ear canals are smaller and more sensitive and need a gentler, sometimes shorter approach. Ring ahead with your child's age and symptoms and we will give you an honest view on whether a clinic visit or a paediatric referral is the better route.
It sometimes helps, particularly if wax has been resting against the eardrum, but it will not always resolve things, since tinnitus can come from several different causes. If your ears are clear afterwards and the tinnitus persists, that is worth mentioning to your GP rather than assuming the treatment has failed.
It is not unusual, especially with sudden hearing changes, discharge or pain, which point more towards infection than a simple blockage. Since the consultation and examination cost nothing, there is no harm in coming in to find out, and we will explain clearly what we can see and where to go next.
Usually within a few days, sometimes the same week, since there is no referral to wait on and Hove is close enough that many patients pop in on a lunch break or after work. We keep a mix of daytime and later slots specifically because so many of our Hove patients are commuting.
Head east along the Old Shoreham Road towards Brighton, pick up the Lewes Road, and turn onto Coldean Lane near Falmer, around 15 minutes from most of Hove. Free patient parking is available directly outside, and Hove station has fast trains into Brighton if you prefer not to drive.
No referral is needed. Brighton Clinics accepts direct bookings from anyone, so there is no need to see your GP or wait for a letter before arranging your appointment. Most Hove patients book with us precisely because it skips the long NHS audiology wait that a GP referral for wax now tends to involve.
You can book online through cal.com or ring the pharmacy directly on 01273 605657. Both routes usually lead to a same-week appointment, and staff will run through what to bring and expect beforehand. Calling directly also lets you ask any quick questions about your symptoms first.
The consultation and ear examination are free of charge, and if it turns out there is no wax present there is no charge for anything else either. Call 01273 605657 to ask about current procedure rates and to check availability.
Not generally. Because the technique stays completely dry, it sidesteps the main concern with syringing and irrigation, which is pushing water past a previously repaired eardrum. We will ask about the surgery itself, and roughly when it happened, before we begin.
Information on this page is for general guidance. Suitability for microsuction depends on your ear-canal anatomy and history. The free otoscopic examination at your appointment determines what is appropriate.
Sources: Earwax build-up - causes, symptoms and treatment · Earwax - Clinical Knowledge Summary · Ear wax management - professional guidance · Practice guidance on cerumen management · Register entry - Brijesh Thaker (Reg. 2079034) · Register entry - Kathryn Harries (Reg. 2057551)
Get your hearing back in one appointment.
Microsuction a short drive from Hove, with free parking when you arrive. Free consultation and ear exam, no GP referral, no waiting list. If there is no wax, there is no charge. Call 01273 605657 to book.