Earcare Service

The overall aim of the scheme is to ensure that patients can access self-care advice for the treatment of minor ear conditions and, where appropriate, can be recommended over the counter treatments or be prescribed appropriate treatment for the treatment of common ear infections. Patients can also be referred to their General Practice as required. In Tier 2 of the service patients can be treated for the removal of ear wax. This provides an alternative location from which patients can seek advice and treatment, rather than seeking treatment via a prescription from their GP or out of hours (OoH) provider, Same Day Health Centre, Urgent Treatment Centre or accident and emergency. The service will support the GP Community Pharmacy Consultation Service

The service will be commissioned at two levels with coverage across the 5 PCN areas:

Tier One – Otoscoping, diagnosis and treatment of common ear infections against relevant PGDs

Tier Two – Irrigation of ear wax

There are currently 15 pharmacies providing Tier 1 and 2 pharmacies providing Tier 2. Please see the linked, a list of pharmacies that you can refer patients to.

Resources

22.23 Ear Care Service Specification V2.0

Tier 1 resources

Aural-Instrumentation-Guidelines-1

Aural-Toilet-Guidelines-1

Otoscopy-Guideline-1

PGD’s

Amoxicillin_AOM_PGD_DCCG_signed

Betamethasone_Clioquinol_Oint_OE_PGD_DCCG_finals-signed-1

Clarithromycin_AOM_PGD_DCCG_signed

Clotrimazole_Hydrocortisone_OE_Administer_PGD_DCCG_Finals-signed-1

Flucloxacillin_OE_PGD_DCCG_finals-signed-1