Adult women can now get help for simple urine infections at their local pharmacy.

A new service is being rolled out will allow community pharmacies to manage and treat uncomplicated lower Urinary Tract Infections (UTI) in women aged 16-64.

Paul Fieldhouse, Clinical Director of Pharmacy and Medicines Optimisation, from North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust (NCIC) said:

“This is great news for the local community in Cumbria. More than 75,000 women in the North East and North Cumbria, aged between 16-64, went to their GP practice with a UTI in the last six months. Now anyone who thinks they might have a UTI can skip the GP queue and go directly to a local pharmacy that is involved in providing this service.”

A UTI is an infection of any part of the urinary tract.

UTIs are the most common bacterial infection in humans, mainly presenting in women, with 40% of women expected to suffer from one during their lifetime.

Symptoms of a UTI include:

  • Burning or stinging sensation on passing urine
  • Needing to pass urine frequently or urgently
  • Cloudy urine
  • Passing excessive or large quantities of urine

Around 15% (4.8 million) of women in the UK suffer from a UTI each year, therefore it is expected if those women use this service instead, it has the potential to significantly reduce demand on other services such as GPs, NHS 111 and urgent and emergency care centres.

The local pharmacies that are involved are:

Workington

  • FC Whelan Chemists Ltd, 72 John Street, Workington CA14 3BT
  • Boots, 29 Murray Road Workington, CA14 2AB
  • Seaton Pharmacy, 91 Main Road, Seaton, Workington CA14 1JE
  • Tuschem Ltd, Workington Community Hospital, Park Lane, Workington CA14 2RW
  • W GOURLAY (CHEMISTS), 25-27 Oxford Street, Workington, Cumbria CA14 2AL
  • J H SANDHAM, 64-66 Harrington Road, Workington, Cumbria CA14 3EG

Carlisle

  • Dalston Pharmacy - Bank St (Formerly Sawyers), 6-8 Bank Street, Carlisle, CA3 8EU
  • Dalston Pharmacy, Arnside Hse, Sycamore Lane, Parklands Village, Carlisle, CA1 3SR
  • Dalston Pharmacy, 7 Central Avenue, Harraby, Carlisle CA1 3QB

Whitehaven

  • Mirehouse Pharmacy, 59 Meadow Road, Mirehouse, Whitehaven CA28 8ER
  • Whitehaven Late Pharmacy, Unit 1, Lowther Buildings, Lowther Street, Whitehaven, Cumbria, CA28 7DG
  • Seacliffe Pharmacy, High Road, Whitehaven, Cumbria CA28 9PG

Maryport

  • AF Norman Chemists Ltd, 55 Senhouse Street, Maryport CA15 6BL
  • HS Dobie Chemist, 29 Curzon Street, Maryport CA15 6LN

Alston

  • Alston Pharmacy, Front Street, Alston CA9 3QP

Keswick

  • Boots, 31 Main Street, Keswick CA12 5BL
  • Boots, West Street Health Centre Aspatria, CA7 3HH

Brampton

  • Brampton Pharmacy, Market Place, Brampton CA8 1RW

Dalston

  • Dalston Pharmacy, 2 Vicars Cottages, The Square, Dalston CA5 7LW

Kirkby Stephen

  • Green Tree Pharmacy Ltd, 8 Market Street, Kirkby Stephen CA17 4QS

Penrith

  • Joseph Cowper Ltd, 50 King Street, Penrith CA11 7AY
  • Boots, Unit 3, Angel Square Penrith, CA11 7BT

Cockermouth

  • JWW Allison and Sons Ltd, 31 Main Street, Cockermouth CA13 9LE

Seascale

  • Seascale Pharmacy, Gosforth Road, Seascale CA20 1PR