- Community healthcare service
Nurse Richard – The Wax Wizard
Assessment report published 1 December 2025
Contents
Ratings - Community health services for adults
Our view of the service
This assessment took place on the 3 September 2025. The inspection was of community health services for adults; and community health services for children, young people and families.
Nurse Richard – The Wax Wizard provides services related to the removal of problematic ear wax, or foreign bodies in the ear canal. The provider was a sole trader, and the only person working in the service.
The service provided safe care and had enough staff to deliver care for patients. Staff assessed patients at the beginning of each session and identified any potential risks. The environment was clean, well-maintained and fit for purpose.
Care and treatment was delivered in line with national guidance and best practice. Staff had the necessary skills, training and experience to provide effective care to patients.
Staff delivered person-centred care and involved patients in decisions about their care and treatment. Patients were made aware of how to raise concerns, give feedback or make a complaint.
The provider was experienced and had a good understanding of the service. The service had a clear model of care. The provider monitored and managed the service effectively. Information about the service was shared online.
Mental Capacity Act
The provider had a consent policy that included considerations of a patient’s capacity. It highlighted possible conditions (such as dementia) and circumstances when particular attention may be needed to ensure the person has capacity to consent. The policy described what action should be taken in the event that the patient did not have the capacity to consent, or were subject to Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) or if the procedure was deemed to be required in their best interest. The provider told us this was a rare occurrence, but was clear about the process to follow if it happened, to ensure that the person was supported and treatment was provided lawfully.
The provider was a sole trader. They had a good understanding of the Mental Capacity Act and how it applied to their service. They took all practical steps to enable patients to make their own decisions. For patients who might have impaired mental capacity, staff assessed and recorded capacity to consent appropriately. They did this on a decision-specific basis with regards to the treatment being offered, specifically the removal of ear wax.
People's experience of this service
It was difficult to get direct feedback from patients, due to the limited number of people we were able to speak with. Those that we spoke with were positive about the service.
The provider used a number of routes to get feedback from people. This included direct feedback during and after treatment, encouraging people to complete online reviews, and paper surveys in the waiting area. The provider analysed the feedback from the reviews, which was positive.