An NHS ear and hearing health pathway has been rolled out across 10 Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) in England, with community pharmacies set to deliver ear assessments, hearing screening and ear wax removal.
The programme supported by ear and hearing technology company TympaHealth, has an initial capacity for up to 16,320 community based appointments annually. It forms part of a national evaluation, examining how access to ear and hearing healthcare can be delivered.
The rollout comes as the total NHS elective ear, nose and throat (ENT) waiting list approaches 600,00. It also follows figures showing that 42% of patients were waiting six weeks or more for audiology tests as of August 2026.
The pathway aims to manage appropriate ear and hearing conditions within community pharmacy settings, reducing the need for some patients to access secondary care. It is also intended to ease pressure on ENT and audiology services, allowing specialists to concentrate on more complex referrals and procedures.
Which areas are included in the rollout?
The programme is running across 10 ICBs:
- Thames Valley
- Surrey and Sussex
- Central East
- West and North London
- Cornwall and Isles of Scilly
- Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin
- Dorset
- Greater Manchester
- Herefordshire and Worcestershire
- Coventry and Warwickshire.
The programme was first launched in Frimley in November 2025, where nine community pharmacies were initially trained to deliver the service.
Yinka Kuye, Head of Pharmacy for the Medicines Optimisation Team at Frimley ICB, said the commissioning of the pathway would support the NHS ambition to move more care from hospitals into community settings. She added that early results had shown regular GP referrals, with just over 50% of patients being fully managed within community pharmacy.
How will community pharmacies support the pathway ?
Under the programme, participating pharmacies will provide ear assessments, hearing screening and ear wax removal services.
Ram Moorthy, Consultant ENT Surgeon at Frimley ICB, said community–based pathways could help patients receive assessments closer to home and allow those requiring specialist intervention to access appropriate care.
He added that the service would help identify and safely manage suitable cases within the community while supporting more timely access to specialist care for patients who need it.
What is the NHS trying to achieve ?
The pathway forms part of a wider ambition to move more healthcare services out of hospitals and closer to patients, as outlined in its 10 Year Health Plan.
By expanding the role of community pharmacies, the programme aims to provide additional capacity for patients while addressing access pressures in primary and secondary care.
Dr.Krishna Ramdoo, founder and CEO of TympaHealth, said the rollout would provide an opportunity to assess how ear and hearing services could be delivered within community settings. He also referred to a research conducted in January 2025 which found that 28% of respondents were unaware that ear and hearing health issues could be assessed by a pharmacist, while 18% said they had waited between “four and six months” to receive treatment from a healthcare professional.
The company aims to expand the pathway across additional ICBs as the national evaluation progresses.
