Treat urinary tract infections without a GP appointment

Women aged 16-64 who live in the Borders can visit their own community pharmacist when they have symptoms of a urinary tract infection (UTI), without the need to make an appointment with their GP.

The service has been in place since the beginning of 2016 and is currently available at 23 community pharmacies in the Borders.  The pharmacists have been trained to diagnose and treat uncomplicated UTIs, thereby saving both GPs and their patient’s time and resources.

Adrian MacKenzie, Lead Pharmacist for NHS Borders said: “Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are very common and can be very painful and uncomfortable but usually pass within a few days or can be easily treated with a course of antibiotics. They’re more common in women than in men and around half of all women in the UK will have a UTI at least once in their life.

“Since introducing UTI services to community pharmacies in the Borders, around seventy women have received consultations providing them with the advice and treatment they need without going to their GP.

Alison Wilson, Director of Pharmacy for NHS Borders said: “I am delighted that women are using the UTI service at community pharmacies in the Borders. This service demonstrates the continuous improvement we are making to the quality of womens health services in the Borders.”

Patients who cannot be treated through this service will be signposted to the most appropriate healthcare provider.

Is your pharmacy offering this service?

Listed below are the community pharmacies in the Scottish Borders who are currently offering this service. 

Location	Pharmacy
CHIRNSIDE	Grays Pharmacy
COLDSTREAM	GLM Romanes Pharmacy
DUNS	GLM Romanes Pharmacy
EYEMOUTH	GLM Romanes Pharmacy
GALASHIELS	Boots Pharmacy
	Lloyds Pharmacy
GREENLAW	GLM Romanes Pharmacy
HAWICK	Boots Pharmacy
	HHCC Pharmacy
	Lindsay & Gilmour Pharmacy
INNERLEITHEN	M Farren Pharmacy
JEDBURGH	Boots Pharmacy
	Jedburgh Pharmacy
KELSO	Boots Pharmacy
	Lloyds Pharmacy
LAUDER	Lauder Pharmacy
MELROSE	Boots Pharmacy
NEWTOWN ST BOSWELLS	Eildon Pharmacy
PEEBLES	Boots Pharmacy
	Lloyds Pharmacy
SELKIRK	AA Weir Pharmacy
	Lindsay & Gilmour Pharmacy
WEST LINTON	West Linton Pharmacy

 

Did you know?

Men will not be able to use the pharmacy UTI service.

Women outwith 16-64 years of age, who have recurring urinary infections or who may be pregnant will not be able to use the pharmacy UTI service.

There may be other reasons, eg. medical conditions, why a women may not be able to use the pharmacy UTI service.?

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are very common. They can be painful and uncomfortable but they usually pass within a few days or can be easily treated with a course of antibiotics. They're more common in women than in men - it's estimated that half of all women in the UK will have a UTI at least once in their life and one out of every 2,000 healthy men will develop one each year. Children also get UTIs, although this is less common.

If you develop a UTI, you are likely to feel:

• Pain or a burning sensation when urinating (doctors refer to this as dysuria)
• A need to urinate often
• Pain in the lower abdomen (tummy)
  
  

What is the urinary tract?

The urinary tract is where our bodies make, and get rid of, urine. It's made up of:

• The kidneys: these are two bean-shaped organs that make urine out of waste materials from the blood
• The ureters: tubes that run from the kidney to the bladder
• The bladder: where urine is stored until we go to the toilet
• The urethra: the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the hole where it leaves the body (in men this is at the tip of the penis, in women it's between the vagina and the clitoris)

Preventing UTIs

Drinking cranberry juice may help to prevent UTIs. If you have had recurring UTIs, higher-strength cranberry capsules are recommended. These are available from most pharmacists. Don't drink cranberry juice or take cranberry capsules if you are taking warfarin (a medicine that is used to prevent blood clots).

Constipation (where it is difficult to defecate or poo) can increase your chances of developing a UTI. You should act quickly to treat constipation by:

• Increasing the amount of fibre in your diet (20g to 30g of fibre a day)
• Using a mild laxative on a short-term basis
• Drinking plenty of fluids

See your GP if your constipation symptoms don't improve after 14 days.

Women who get recurring UTIs, and use condoms, should try using condoms that don't have a spermicidal lubricant on them - it will say whether it does on the packet. Spermicidal lubricant can cause irritation and make it more likely that you'll get a UTI.