Everyday Health
Ear Infection Consultation and Treatment
Your ear examined properly, with treatment on the day where it is needed.
Available from 1 October 2026 – register your interestBook a consultation Call 01453 810316
- Available
- From 1 October 2026
- Examination
- Ear examined with an otoscope
- Who
- Adults and children assessed
- Treatment
- Same-day treatment where suitable
About this service
There are two common kinds of ear infection and they need different treatment, which is exactly why looking in the ear matters before deciding what to do. A middle ear infection sits behind the eardrum, is most common in young children, often follows a cold, and causes pain, a temperature, reduced hearing and sometimes discharge if the eardrum perforates, which usually relieves the pain suddenly. Most middle ear infections settle within three days without antibiotics, and pain relief is the priority. An outer ear infection, sometimes called swimmer’s ear, affects the ear canal itself, causing itching, a blocked feeling, discharge and pain that is characteristically worse when the outer ear is pulled or pressed, and it is often triggered by water, cotton buds, earphones or hearing aids disturbing the skin of the canal.
Some ear infections need urgent medical attention rather than pharmacy treatment, and we check carefully for those at every consultation. Treatment for an outer ear infection is usually applied into the ear rather than taken by mouth. In England, the NHS Pharmacy First service already covers middle ear infection in children aged one to seventeen, and we will always use that route where you are eligible rather than charging you. At Berkeley Pharmacy our ear infection consultation offers a proper examination with an otoscope, a clear assessment of which kind of infection it is, treatment on the day where it is suitable, and a clear referral where the picture needs medical assessment.
What an ear infection is and why looking in the ear matters
There are two common kinds of ear infection and they need different treatment, which is exactly why looking in the ear matters before deciding what to do. A middle ear infection sits behind the eardrum, is most common in young children, often follows a cold, and causes pain, a temperature, reduced hearing and sometimes discharge if the eardrum perforates, which usually relieves the pain suddenly. Most middle ear infections settle within three days without antibiotics, and pain relief is the priority.
An outer ear infection, sometimes called swimmer’s ear, affects the ear canal itself, causing itching, a blocked feeling, discharge and pain that is characteristically worse when the outer ear is pulled or pressed, and it is often triggered by water, cotton buds, earphones or hearing aids disturbing the skin of the canal. Treatment for an outer ear infection is usually applied into the ear rather than taken by mouth. Some ear infections need urgent medical attention rather than pharmacy treatment, and we check for those. In England, the NHS Pharmacy First service already covers middle ear infection in children aged one to seventeen, and we will always use that route where you are eligible rather than charging you.
Who this service is for
Suitable for
- Adults and children with ear pain, discharge, itching or a blocked, muffled ear
- People who get repeated outer ear infections from swimming or hearing aids
- Anyone who has been told to come back if things did not settle
- People who would rather have the ear looked at than guess
- Those who want to avoid waiting for a GP appointment
Not suitable for
- Redness, swelling or tenderness of the bone behind the ear, a severe headache, neck stiffness, facial weakness, confusion or a very unwell child, all of which need urgent medical care
- Babies under one year
- People with diabetes or a weakened immune system and a severe or persistent outer ear infection, who need medical assessment
- Anyone with known grommets or a perforated eardrum, where some treatments are unsuitable
- Sudden hearing loss without pain, which needs urgent assessment within days
How it works
A simple, consistent process for every service at Berkeley Pharmacy.
Get in touch
Call us or use our contact form to arrange a consultation.
Consultation
A private, face-to-face appointment with our pharmacist in our Berkeley consultation room.
Clinical assessment
We review your medical history and confirm whether the service is suitable for you.
Treatment or referral
If it is suitable we treat you the same day; if not, we explain why and advise on the best next step.
What to expect at your appointment
Your consultation begins with careful questioning about the symptoms and how they came on, followed by a proper look in the ear with an otoscope, which is the part that decides what kind of infection it is.
- A consultation covering symptoms, how long they have been present, any discharge, hearing changes, dizziness and recent colds or water exposure
- Examination of the ear with an otoscope, which is the part that decides what kind of infection it is
- A check of your medical history, allergies and current medicines
- Where the NHS Pharmacy First service applies, treatment through that route
- Where private treatment is appropriate, a discussion of the options and treatment on the day
- A clear referral where the picture needs medical assessment
Aftercare and self-care
Keeping the ear dry and leaving it alone are the two things that make the biggest difference while it settles. Hearing may be muffled for a week or two after a middle ear infection, which is normal, but it should return to normal within around six weeks.
- Keep the ear dry while it is settling, including using a shower cap or petroleum jelly on cotton wool while washing, and avoid swimming until it has cleared
- Do not put cotton buds or anything else in the ear, as this is the single most common cause of outer ear infections
- Regular simple pain relief is usually the most effective thing in the first couple of days
- Hearing may be muffled for a week or two after a middle ear infection, which is normal, but see us or your GP if it has not returned to normal after around six weeks
- Get urgent help for swelling behind the ear, a severe headache, dizziness or facial weakness
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a middle ear and an outer ear infection?
A middle ear infection sits behind the eardrum, is most common in young children, often follows a cold, and causes pain, a temperature, reduced hearing and sometimes discharge if the eardrum perforates, which usually relieves the pain suddenly. An outer ear infection, sometimes called swimmer’s ear, affects the ear canal itself, causing itching, a blocked feeling, discharge and pain that is characteristically worse when the outer ear is pulled or pressed. They need different treatment, which is exactly why we look in the ear with an otoscope before deciding what to do.
Do ear infections always need antibiotics?
No. Most middle ear infections settle within three days without antibiotics, and pain relief is the priority. Treatment for an outer ear infection is usually applied into the ear rather than taken by mouth. We assess which kind of infection it is by looking in the ear, and we only recommend treatment where it is genuinely needed, with a clear explanation of why.
Is ear infection treatment for children free on the NHS at a pharmacy?
In England, the NHS Pharmacy First service already covers middle ear infection in children aged one to seventeen, and we will always use that route where you are eligible rather than charging you. Our private consultation is there for adults and for children whose situation falls outside that service, and we will always tell you clearly which route applies.
Why does my ear hurt more when I pull on it?
Pain that is characteristically worse when the outer ear is pulled or pressed is a classic feature of an outer ear infection, sometimes called swimmer’s ear, because the inflammation is in the ear canal itself rather than behind the eardrum. It is often triggered by water, cotton buds, earphones or hearing aids disturbing the skin of the canal. Looking in the ear with an otoscope lets us confirm this and recommend the right treatment, which is usually applied into the ear rather than taken by mouth.
How long should hearing stay muffled after an ear infection?
Hearing may be muffled for a week or two after a middle ear infection, which is normal, as fluid behind the eardrum takes time to clear. See us or your GP if it has not returned to normal after around six weeks, as persistent fluid or a lingering problem may need further assessment. Sudden hearing loss without pain, however, needs urgent assessment within days rather than waiting.
When is this service available?
This service will be available from 1 October 2026. If you or your child have redness, swelling or tenderness of the bone behind the ear, a severe headache, neck stiffness, facial weakness, confusion or are very unwell before then, please seek urgent medical care rather than waiting, as those features need same-day assessment.
How we can supply treatment without a GP appointment
Some treatments at Berkeley Pharmacy are supplied under a Patient Group Direction, or PGD – a written instruction, signed by a doctor and a pharmacist, that legally allows our trained pharmacists to supply and administer specified medicines to people who meet defined clinical criteria, without a prescription from your GP. If you do not meet the criteria set out in the PGD we cannot supply the treatment, and we will explain why and advise you on the best next step. Our pharmacists also work as independent prescribers where that is appropriate.
Serving Berkeley and the surrounding Gloucestershire villages
Berkeley Pharmacy is on Market Place in the centre of Berkeley, with easy access from junctions 13 and 14 of the M5. We welcome patients from Berkeley, Sharpness, Newport, Berkeley Heath, Alkington, Ham, Stone and Rockhampton, and we are a short drive from Cam, Dursley, Slimbridge, Cambridge, Falfield, Charfield, Tortworth, Cromhall, Oldbury-on-Severn, Wotton-under-Edge, Thornbury, Frampton on Severn and Stonehouse. Patients also travel to us from Stroud, Nailsworth, Yate, Chipping Sodbury, Tetbury and Gloucester.
Safe, regulated care from your local pharmacy team
- Berkeley Pharmacy is registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council. You can check any pharmacy or pharmacist on the GPhC register at pharmacyregulation.org.
- Every consultation is face to face and private, in our dedicated consultation room – not an online questionnaire.
- Serving the Berkeley community for over 25 years.
- This service does not replace care from your GP. With your consent we will inform your GP of any treatment provided. If you are unwell, have new or worsening symptoms, or need urgent care, contact your GP or NHS 111, and in an emergency call 999.
- If you experience a side effect from any medicine you can report it through the MHRA Yellow Card scheme at yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk.
Page last reviewed: September 2026. Next review due: September 2027.
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Visit us in Berkeley or get in touch to arrange a private consultation with our pharmacist.
Book a consultation Call 01453 810316
Address
14 Market Place, Berkeley, GL13 9BB
Opening hours
Mon–Fri 9am–6pm (closed 1–2pm)
Sat 9am–1pm
Sun Closed