Ear Examination & Otoscopy
A private ear examination by a trained pharmacist — no GP wait, and treatment on the spot where it is appropriate.
If you have ear discomfort, pain, reduced hearing, a feeling of pressure, or you think you might have an ear infection, our private otoscopy service gets your ears looked at by a trained pharmacist.
It is for people who do not meet the criteria for NHS Pharmacy First, or who would rather have a private assessment than wait for a GP appointment.
Do not book — seek urgent medical help
This service is for minor ear conditions and does not replace emergency care. Please get urgent medical attention if you have any of these:
- Sudden complete hearing loss
- Severe dizziness or loss of balance
- Facial weakness
- Significant swelling around the ear
- High fever with severe ear pain
- A head injury along with ear symptoms
- Persistent or heavy bleeding from the ear
Call 111, or 999 if it is an emergency.
What it costs
- £20 covers the consultation and the examination, whether or not you need treatment.
- If treatment is appropriate, medication is extra — from £15, on a private prescription we write and dispense here.
- Miss your appointment without 24 hours’ notice and the £20 is not refunded.
What is included
- A consultation to talk through your symptoms
- Examination of one or both ears with an otoscope
- An explanation of what we find
- Treatment for certain minor outer and middle ear infections, where that is clinically appropriate
- A referral recommendation if you need further assessment
Treatment for minor ear infections
If you need treatment for a minor outer or middle ear infection, we can write and dispense a private prescription. Medication starts at £15.
Not every ear infection can be treated safely in a pharmacy. Some need a GP, an urgent care service or a hospital specialist — if that is the case we will tell you at the appointment and point you the right way.
Cancellation and non-attendance
If you cannot attend your appointment, please let us know as soon as you can.
- An appointment missed without 24 hours’ notice counts as a non-attendance.
- The £20 consultation fee is forfeited.
- A new appointment and a new fee are needed before another can be arranged.
Aged 1 to 17 with earache? You may be eligible for our NHS Pharmacy First earache consultation instead, which is free. Ask us and we will check.