Foreign objects in ears costing NHS £3m a year

A new study has claimed that removing foreign objects from ears and noses costs NHS hospitals in England almost £3 million each year.

With an average of 1,218 nasal and 2,479 aural removals having taken place between 2010 and 2016, the Will children ever learn? Paper, published by the Royal College of Surgeons, found that children were responsible for the vast majority of cases - 95 per cent of objects removed from noses and 85 per cent from ears.

Broken down, jewellery items accounted for up to 40 per cent of cases in both the ear and noses of children. Paper and plastic toys were the items removed next most from noses, with cotton buds and pencils also found in ears.

Simon Morris, a specialist at Morriston Hospital in Swansea and author of the report, said: "Ask any ear, nose and throat surgeon, and they'll be able to tell you about weird and wonderful objects they have retrieved from the noses and ears of children and adults - pretty much anything that fits. Personally I've seen green peas, 'googly eyes' and polystyrene balls from bean-bags.

"Obviously prevention is better than a cure, which is why many toys contain warnings about containing small parts... But otherwise, recognising this early and seeking medical attention is important."