Pharmacists can assess and treat UTIs closer to home
Women with a urinary tract infection can now get pain relief without having to see a GP.
A new service launched in Swansea Bay allows community pharmacists to assess their symptoms and provide free pain relief or treatment if needed.
It is available to most women aged between 16 to 64, who have symptoms of a urinary tract infection, or UTI.
These can include pain or a burning sensation when peeing, needing to pee more often than usual, needing to pee suddenly or more urgently than usual and lower tummy discomfort, among other symptoms.
Pharmacists will ask questions to determine whether the patient needs a urine test and will then complete a clinical assessment before deciding if treatment is needed.
It allows patients to receive their care closer to home and not have to make a GP appointment first.
Patients are advised to contact their local pharmacy before attending to check if the service is available to them.
Sam Page, Head of Primary Care at Swansea Bay University Health Board, said: “If the patient’s answers indicate a UTI is likely, a urine test may not be necessary.
“If a urine test is needed, the patient will only have to wait for a few minutes to receive the result.
“The test will help the pharmacist to make a diagnosis if it is not clear based on their symptoms alone.”
If treatment is not required, the pharmacist will offer self-care advice to help patients manage the infection at home.
They are also able to offer pain relief or treatment if these are deemed necessary.
“Patients may not always need treatment so the pharmacist could recommend taking a painkiller,” Sam added.
“If appropriate, they can give patients a short course of treatment.
“They can also supply antibiotics but suggest to the patient to wait for 48 hours before taking them, in case the symptoms go on their own.”
Antibiotics can help to treat many infections, but they are not always needed for urinary symptoms.
By only taking antibiotics when they are needed, it can help to reduce the risk of antimicrobial resistance which can make some infections more difficult to treat.
Dr Charlotte Jones is a GP partner at Uplands and Mumbles Surgery and the health board’s clinical lead for antimicrobial stewardship.
She said: “To help keep the antibiotics working, they should only be taken if a health professional has advised to do so.
“By only taking them when advised, they are more likely to work for a potential future infection.”
Some patients can have a more complicated infection and may need additional tests and treatment.
People who are pregnant, have weakened immune systems, a high temperature or have certain medical conditions are among those who may not be able to access the service.
In this case, they are advised to speak to a community pharmacist or GP practice for advice on which service is best suited for them.
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