Archived: Clear Ear Clinic Oxford

This service is rated as Good overall. The key questions are rated as:

• Are services safe? – Good
• Are services effective? – Good
• Are services caring? – Good
• Are services responsive? – Good
• Are services well-led? – Good

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Clear Ear Clinic Oxford on 8 April 2022. The service was registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in November 2017. We carried out this first rated inspection as part of our regulatory functions. The inspection was undertaken to check whether the service was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.

The clinic is a stand-alone aural care service which specialises in cerumen (earwax) removal by microsuction. Microsuction is a treatment where trained clinicians use a microscope to view the ear canal and a small suction device to remove cerumen.

The service was founded by a Consultant ear, nose and throat (ENT) surgeon and an ENT nurse specialist, who is also the registered manager. A registered manager is a person who is registered with the CQC to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

Clear Ear Clinic Oxford is registered with the CQC to provide the following regulated activity:

• Treatment of disease, disorder or injury

Our key findings were:

• The service had systems to assess, monitor and manage risks to patient safety.

• In response to COVID-19, the service had implemented enhanced infection control procedures to keep patients, staff and visitors safe.

• The service assessed need and delivered care in line with current legislation, standards and evidence-based guidance for ear microsuction.

• The service treated patients with kindness, respect and compassion.

• The service organised and delivered services to meet patients’ needs. Patients were able to access services within an appropriate timescale and complaints were managed appropriately.

• The service had a governance framework in place and had a focus on continuous learning and improvement. This included using the findings from an inspection at the sister clinic in London to make safety improvements at the Oxford clinic.

Dr Rosie Benneyworth BM BS BMedSci MRCGP
Chief Inspector of Primary Medical Services and Integrated Care