Pharmacy first UTI treatment sunderland

Written by the Veritas Pharmacy clinical team · 113 Chester Road, Sunderland · GPhC Registered 9012617

Burning when you go to the toilet, needing to rush more often than usual, or a dull ache low in your tummy. If this sounds familiar, you may be dealing with a urinary tract infection, and you may not need to see your general practitioner at all. Through NHS Pharmacy First, a pharmacist can assess and treat urinary tract infections directly for many women, often on the same day.

What is a urinary tract infection?

A urinary tract infection happens when bacteria get into the bladder or, less commonly, further up towards the kidneys. Most cases involve just the bladder, known as a lower urinary tract infection, and these are generally straightforward to treat. An infection that reaches the kidneys is more serious and needs a different kind of care, which is part of why proper assessment matters before any treatment is given.

Common symptoms of a urinary tract infection

Symptoms can develop quickly, sometimes over just a few hours. Common signs include:

If you notice blood in your urine, or your symptoms are severe, this is still worth having assessed promptly, since it helps your pharmacist confirm the right treatment pathway for you.

Can a pharmacist treat a urinary tract infection through Pharmacy First?

Yes, for many women. NHS Pharmacy First allows a GPhC-registered pharmacist to assess and treat uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women aged 16 to 64, without needing a general practitioner appointment first. Your pharmacist will ask about your symptoms, check for anything that suggests a more complex infection, and may use a simple urine dipstick test to support the assessment.

Where the criteria are met, treatment can be supplied on the spot under a Patient Group Direction, meaning you leave with a plan the same day rather than waiting for a separate general practitioner prescription. Urinary tract infections are one of six conditions currently covered by Pharmacy First at Veritas Pharmacy, alongside sore throat, sinusitis, impetigo, shingles, and infected insect bites.

Who this pathway is not suitable for

Pharmacy First for urinary tract infection is specifically designed for women aged 16 to 64 with an uncomplicated infection. It does not cover men, children, pregnant women, or anyone with a urinary catheter, all of whom need a different assessment route. Frequent, recurring infections, generally defined as two or more within six months or three or more within a year, also fall outside this pathway and need a fuller review with your general practitioner.

What happens at your appointment

Your appointment typically takes around 10 to 15 minutes. Your pharmacist takes a short history, asks about your symptoms and how long you have had them, and checks for anything that would rule out this pathway, such as pregnancy or signs of a kidney infection. A urine sample may be tested using a dipstick to help confirm the diagnosis. If everything fits the criteria, treatment is discussed and supplied there and then, along with advice on staying hydrated and what to expect over the following days. If your situation needs a different type of care, you will be guided to the right next step rather than turned away without a plan.

Urinary tract infection FAQs

Related reading: NHS Pharmacy First at Veritas Pharmacy · NHS Pharmacy First: the 6 conditions explained · Book a private pharmacist consultation