Pharmacies across the North East and North Cumbria can now offer patients easy access to advice and treatments for Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs).

The scheme, aimed at women aged 16-64, enables local community pharmacists to treat patients with a UTI without the need for a GP appointment or prescription.

UTIs are one of the most common bacterial infections seen in female patients, with over 40 percent of women likely to suffer from one in their lifetime. Symptoms include:

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

If you think you may have a UTI go to your local pharmacy first.

There are more than 435 pharmacies across the North East and North Cumbria signed up to offer support and treatment for UTIs.

Find your nearest participating pharmacy here.

People often visit their GP with minor illnesses that a local pharmacist could help with. Instead of booking a GP appointment, you can visit your local pharmacy , saving you time and with no appointment needed – you can just walk in.

All pharmacists can give advice and medicine if you need it that will help clear up the problem. If your condition is more serious, they will refer you to your GP.

What’s more, many pharmacies are open in the evenings and on the weekends.

Can I get free treatment?

If you don’t normally pay for your medicines, then you don’t need to pay with Think Pharmacy First – you can get them free and over the counter from your local pharmacist without the need to see your GP.

Which illnesses are included?

Advice from your pharmacist is always free, but thanks to the Think Pharmacy First scheme they can also provide treatment for the minor illnesses below:

• Aches and pains, including
  • Back Pain
  • Headache
  • Migraine
  • Muscular ache
  • Period pain
  • Teething
  • Toothache
• Allergy
  • Bites and stings
  • Hay fever
  • Skin reaction
• Colds and Flu
  • Cough
  • Congestion
  • Sore Throat
  • Fever / temperature (including post-immunisation pyrexia)
• Ear care
  • Earache
  • Ear infection
  • Ear wax
• Eye care
  • Bacterial Conjunctivitis
  • Styes
• Gastrointestinal care
  • Constipation
  • Diarrhoea
  • Dyspepsia
  • Haemorrhoids
  • Indigestion
  • Reflux
  • Threadworm
  • Vomiting
• Head lice
• Mouth Care
  • Cold Sores
  • Oral Thrush
  • Ulcers
• Skin care
  • Athletes foot
  • Chickenpox
  • Cold sores
  • Contact dermatitis / atopic eczema
  • Fungal skin infections
  • Nappy Rash
  • Pruritis
  • Scabies
  • Warts and verrucae
• Vaginal Thrush