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ENT · Ear Infection & Earache · Private clinic in East London

Private ear infection & earache clinic in London, same-day ENT.

Earache is often caused by an ear infection and usually settles, but pain that is severe, lasting or recurrent — or with discharge or hearing loss — should be assessed. Our private ENT clinic in East London offers same-day ear infection & earache assessment with a private ENT specialist, diagnosis and a clear treatment plan — usually without a referral and often the same day.

Book a private appointment Call 020 7916 0029
Same-day
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Specialist-led
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No referral
needed

The condition

What is ear infection & earache?

Earache is often caused by an ear infection and usually settles, but pain that is severe, lasting or recurrent — or with discharge or hearing loss — should be assessed.

  • Middle ear infection (otitis media)
  • Outer ear infection (swimmer's ear)
  • Earache in adults & children
  • Ear discharge
  • Recurrent ear infections
  • Hearing check

Understanding ear infection & earache

Ear Infection & Earache: symptoms, causes, tests & treatment

Seek medical help urgently if there is

  • swelling, redness or tenderness of the bone behind the ear, or the ear being pushed forwards
  • a severe headache, stiff neck or dislike of bright light
  • weakness of the face on the affected side, or a drooping mouth
  • severe dizziness or vertigo, or new hearing loss
  • confusion, drowsiness or a child who is very unwell or floppy
  • earache in a baby under three months with a fever

Swelling behind the ear can indicate mastoiditis, an infection spreading into the bone, which needs hospital treatment. In an emergency call 999, or go to the Royal London Hospital Emergency Department, Whitechapel Road, London E1 1FR.

What to expect

3 dayswhen most ear infections start improving
1 weektypical full recovery
Fewactually need antibiotics

Earache in children often follows a cold and is worse at night and when lying down. There may be a temperature, reduced hearing, irritability, or a child pulling at the ear. Hearing can stay dulled for a few weeks afterwards as fluid clears — that is normal and usually resolves on its own.

Treating the pain

  • Paracetamol or ibuprofen at regular intervals, at the dose on the packet for age and weight. Give it before bedtime rather than waiting for the pain to wake them.
  • Use one at a time; do not give both together. If the first has not helped after the recommended interval, you may try the other instead.
  • A warm flannel held against the ear is soothing for many people.
  • Sleeping propped up slightly can reduce night-time pain.
  • Do not give aspirin to anyone under 16.

Do

  • Keep the ear dry while it is infected
  • Let discharge drain out and wipe it away gently from the outside
  • Carry on with normal activities if you feel well enough

Do not

  • Do not put cotton buds, fingers or anything else into the ear canal
  • Do not use ear drops unless they have been prescribed for this problem
  • Do not put olive oil or other oils in an actively infected or discharging ear
  • Do not fly or dive while the ear is acutely infected if you can avoid it

If the eardrum bursts

A sudden discharge of fluid or pus from the ear, often with the pain easing dramatically at the same moment, usually means the eardrum has perforated. This is common, and it sounds far worse than it is. The hole normally heals by itself within a few weeks. Keep the ear dry — no swimming, and use a cotton wool ball smeared with Vaseline in the outer ear when showering — and arrange a review to check that it has healed.

When antibiotics are used

Antibiotics make little difference to most ear infections but are appropriate when a child is under two with infection in both ears, when there is discharge from the ear, when someone is systemically unwell or at higher risk, or when there has been no improvement after about three days.

Sometimes a delayed prescription is the right answer — you take it away and only use it if things have not improved in a couple of days. That approach avoids unnecessary antibiotics without leaving you stranded over a weekend.

Swimmer's ear (outer ear infection)

Pain when the outer ear is pulled or pressed, itching, and sometimes a watery discharge suggest infection of the ear canal rather than behind the eardrum. It is common after swimming or in people who use cotton buds or earphones a great deal.

  • Keep the ear completely dry — no swimming until it has settled.
  • Prescription ear drops are usually the treatment, not tablets.
  • Do not clean inside the canal; the skin there is fragile and cleaning makes it worse.
  • Use a hairdryer on a low, cool setting held at a distance to dry the ear after washing.

When to come back

  • no improvement after three days, or symptoms worsening at any point
  • discharge continuing for more than a week, or hearing not returning after several weeks
  • repeated infections — three or more in six months is worth an ENT opinion
  • any concern about a child's hearing, speech or balance

Book an appointment if you need the ear examined, ear drops prescribed, wax removed under direct vision, or a hearing assessment. Our ENT team and earwax removal service run 7 days a week and no referral is needed.

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Seen today, in three easy steps

1

Book in a minute

Book online any time or call reception — no GP referral needed for most ENT appointments.

2

Seen the same day

A GMC-registered GP or ENT specialist examines you, with tests arranged in-house where possible.

3

Diagnosis & plan

You leave with a clear diagnosis, treatment and any onward ENT or imaging arranged.

Book same-day appointment Call 020 7916 0029

Private assessment

See a private ENT specialist for ear infection & earache in London

At our private ENT clinic on Whitechapel Road in East London, you can see a private ENT specialist or ear infection & earache doctor without a referral — most days, often the same day. A private GP in East London or consultant ENT specialist will assess you, arrange the right tests and explain your diagnosis and treatment options clearly. We help patients across East London, Canary Wharf, the City, Docklands and Aldgate who want fast, private answers about ear infection & earache.

Book a private ear infection & earache assessment

Local, private, fast

A private ENT clinic for East London & Canary Wharf

Tower Bridge Hospital is on Whitechapel Road in the heart of East London — minutes from Canary Wharf, the City of London, Docklands and Aldgate. Patients across Tower Hamlets, Wapping, Limehouse and Bethnal Green choose us for a fast, private ear infection & earache appointment with a ENT specialist, without the wait or the referral.

Why choose us

Why choose our East London private ENT clinic

  • Same-day, no referral — private GP and ENT under one roof
  • Specialist-led ENT with GMC-registered clinicians
  • In-house diagnostics — examination, hearing and fast imaging access
  • Minutes from Canary Wharf & the City of London
  • Adults & children seen, most days including Saturdays
  • Transparent pricing and a clear plan

Ready when you are

See a private ENT specialist for ear infection & earache — the same day.

Book a private ear infection & earache assessment in East London: same-day appointments, ENT specialist-led care and a clear plan. No referral needed.

Book same-day appointment 020 7916 0029

Common questions

Ear Infection & Earache in London: your questions answered

Where can I find a private ear infection & earache specialist near me in East London?

Our private ENT clinic is on Whitechapel Road in East London, minutes from Canary Wharf and the City. You can see a private ENT specialist or ear infection & earache doctor for assessment and treatment, usually the same day and without a referral.

Can I see a private ENT specialist for ear infection & earache the same day?

Yes. We hold same-day private appointments most days, including Saturdays, so you can be assessed by a ENT specialist or GP quickly, with tests done in-house where possible.

How much does a private ear infection & earache appointment cost in London?

We keep pricing transparent — see our fees page or call 020 7916 0029, and we will explain the cost of the ear infection & earache assessment and any tests before you book.

Do I need a referral to see a private ENT specialist for ear infection & earache?

No. You can book directly with our clinic. If you are unsure whether to start with a private GP or a ENT specialist, we will guide you.

Do ear infections need antibiotics?

Many are viral and settle without; a clinician examines the ear and advises whether antibiotics or ear drops are needed.

When should earache be seen by an ENT specialist?

Recurrent infections, persistent discharge, hearing loss or pain not settling should be assessed by ENT.

Which areas do you serve for private ear infection & earache care?

We see private patients from across East London, Canary Wharf, the City of London, Docklands, Aldgate, Wapping, Limehouse and Tower Hamlets.

Medically reviewed by Dr Haydar Bolat — Clinical Director, GMC 7138332. Last reviewed August 2026 · next review August 2027. Written in line with our editorial & content-review policy, using guidance from the NHS, NICE and the relevant royal colleges. This information is general and does not replace personal medical advice.

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In an emergency, call 999. Tower Bridge Hospital London is not an emergency service. Your nearest A&E is The Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel Road E1 1FR — 5 minutes’ walk from our front door.

Areas we serve

Private ear infection & earache care in London & East London — Whitechapel, the City & Canary Wharf

Patients visit our Whitechapel clinic for private ear Infection & Earache assessment and treatment from right across London and East London, the City and the Docklands — including Aldgate, Bethnal Green, Bow, Shoreditch, Canary Wharf, Stratford, Bermondsey and the surrounding areas. Same-day and walk-in appointments are available and you do not need a GP referral.

Easy to reach — minutes from the Royal London Hospital and Aldgate East, Whitechapel, Aldgate and Liverpool Street stations, and one stop from Canary Wharf on the Elizabeth line.

Private ear infection & earache treatment near me? If you are searching for private ear infection & earache treatment near me, a ear infection & earache doctor or specialist near me, or a private clinic near me in East London, our Whitechapel practice is on your doorstep — walk-in and same-day appointments, no GP referral, and no long NHS waiting list.

Book a same-day appointment or call 020 7916 0029. See our transparent fees. Open 7 days a week, 9am–7pm. Private clinic on Whitechapel Road, London E1 — serving Tower Hamlets, Hackney, Newham, Islington, the City of London and Southwark.

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