Updated 25 April 2022
Primary Care Services and Solutions is a stand-alone aural care service which specialises in ear wax removal by microsuction or ear irrigation. Microsuction is a wax-removal technique which uses the binocular operating microscope to look straight into the ear canal and then wax is removed using a suction device at low pressure. Ear irrigation involves inserting liquid into the ear canal to flush out earwax.
Services are paid for through NHS funding under a contract with North Kirklees Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).
The service operates from three different sites on a rotational basis:
Tuesday: Oaklands Health Centre, Huddersfield Road, Holmfirth HD9 3TP
Thursday: Broughton House Surgery, 20 New Way, Batley WF17 5QT
Saturday: University Health Centre, Sand Street, Huddersfield HD1 3AL
The service opening times are:
Oakland Health Centre: 9am to 2.30pm
Broughton House Surgery: 9am to 2.30pm
University Health Centre: 9am to 12midday
In addition, home visits could be arranged for housebound or very vulnerable patients.
Primary Care Services and Solutions was successful in a tendering process with North Kirklees CCG in acquiring the contract, along with two other providers in the area, to provide ear microsuction and irrigation services to adults over the age of 18 and those registered with GP practices in the local area.
The service is registered with the CQC to provide:
- Treatment of disease, disorder or injury
The service is staffed by a director who maintains overall operational and governance and oversight of the service. An advanced nurse practitioner (ANP) provides clinical oversight of the service. An additional ANP and prescribing nurse complete the team.
During our visit we interviewed staff in person and carried out a site visit to Oaklands Health Centre. We also reviewed questionnaires from staff which we sent out before the site visit.
How we inspected this service
We carried out this inspection as part of our inspection programme of independent health providers.
During our inspection we:
- Spoke with the director and a nurse at the service
- Reviewed a sample of patient care and treatment records
- Reviewed a range of policies, procedures and other evidence provided by the service
- Carried out a visual inspection of the site where services were being delivered.
To get to the heart of patients’ experiences of care and treatment, we always ask the following five questions:
- Is it safe?
- Is it effective?
- Is it caring?
- Is it responsive to people’s needs?
- Is it well-led?
These questions therefore formed the framework for the areas we looked at during the inspection.