Sorry to hear about your husband's predicament, my husband was also told by the practice nurse at our GPs they don't syringe anymore. He was becoming increasingly deaf, from blocked ears. He did go to our local pharmacy who offer all sorts of services and they charged him £80 to do both ears, it's cheaper just for one, but not much more for two. Probably a bit steep, but he said the difference was amazing, the person who did this had much better equipment than whatever our surgery had been using. He thought the result justified the price.
I had a Hopi ear candle treatment at a spa a couple of years ago, again I thought it was worthwhile, the woman who did showed be the gunk that came out, yuk! yuk! a fair amount, it's a painless procedure I might add.