Ear Health Central Otago Responds to Growing Need for Ear Care Services
Ear Health Central Otago is responding to a growing need for more ear care and earwax removal services by setting up a new, dedicated clinic in Alexandra.
The leading ear care provider, which also operates in Wānaka and Queenstown, will open its purpose-built facility at 86 Centennial Avenue on Thursday, November 5.
The Alexandra clinic will be the first to operate three days a week – opening Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays – while the other clinics run once a week.
Wānaka-based Ear Health Central Otago owner and registered nurse Shelley Simon and her colleague Karen Tippet, a registered nurse, travel around the region weekly to see patients.
“Our new Alexandra clinic allows for more appointment availability, less wait time and possible same-day appointments for patients in Alexandra, Cromwell, Ranfurly and the wider Maniototo region,” Shelley says.
It will feature state-of-the-art equipment, including a digital otoscope to show people inside their ears and enable quick referrals back to GPs, ENT specialists and audiologists, with files sent through in digital form. Alexandra local Tanya Tobin is the clinic’s new receptionist.
“The new equipment is items that, as a mobile unit, we could never have travelled with, which means we will be able to offer patients a more improved and comprehensive service,” she adds.
Alexandra was chosen as the centre for the clinic’s permanent base due to a growing number of patients requiring ear care from around the Central Otago region.
“People are becoming more aware of the benefits of regular ear care and how it plays an important role in their overall health and well-being. Microsuction is best-practice for cleaning ears, and this supports the work that audiologists do – particularly around ear health for people with hearing aids,” Simon says.
The Alexandra clinic does mean that the Cromwell clinic, held once a week, will no longer operate. Cromwell patients will instead benefit from more appointment availability and reduced wait time in between bookings.
“We are so excited to be able to welcome locals and patients to our new clinic,” Simon adds. “We are committed to continually advancing our services because good ear health benefits well-being and improves general health. We are passionate about ear care and believe people’s confidence doesn’t have to be impacted due to ear problems.”
