Urinary Tract Infection Treatment
Is this service right for me?
The NHS Pharmacy First UTI pathway covers women aged 16–64. Here’s who it suits — and when your GP is the right route.
| Your situation | Details | What we’ll do |
|---|---|---|
| Free NHS Women 16–64 with UTI symptoms | Burning or stinging when you pee, needing to go urgently or often, cloudy or strong-smelling urine, lower tummy ache | Free NHS consultation; an antibiotic course supplied where clinically appropriate |
| Self-care Mild symptoms, under 3 days | Mild cystitis often clears by itself in a couple of days | Honest self-care and pain-relief advice — come back if it persists past 3 days |
| See a GP Everyone else | Men, under-16s, over-64s, pregnancy, fever, back pain or blood in the urine | These need a GP — we’ll refer you straight away rather than treat |
Treatment costs the same as a normal NHS prescription — free if you’re exempt. See prices below.
What is a UTI?
A urinary tract infection (UTI or cystitis) affects the bladder, the urethra or — more seriously — the kidneys. Lower UTIs are extremely common, especially in women: bacteria from the gut find their way into the urinary tract and multiply. Symptoms include burning when you pee, urgency, going more often, feeling unable to empty your bladder, and urine that’s cloudy, smelly or contains blood.
Several things raise the risk: anything that obstructs the urinary tract (like kidney stones), using a diaphragm or spermicide-coated condoms, catheters, and sex — though a UTI itself is not a sexually transmitted infection. Mild cases typically settle on their own within a couple of days.
Prevention helps if you get them often: shower rather than bathe and skip perfumed products around the genitals, go as soon as you need to and empty your bladder fully, wipe front to back, pee soon after sex, choose cotton underwear over tight synthetics, and consider switching contraception method if you use spermicides. If symptoms persist beyond 3 days — or you’re outside the pharmacy pathway — it’s time for the consultation or your GP.
How the NHS service works
A private consultation with our pharmacist — walk in, no appointment needed.
| Stage | Details | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| 1 · Walk in | Ask at the counter for the UTI service | Free under NHS Pharmacy First for women 16–64 |
| 2 · Private consultation | Symptoms and history reviewed against the NHS clinical pathway | Discreet consultation room, no judgement |
| 3 · The right option | An NHS antibiotic course where appropriate, self-care advice where it isn’t, GP referral where needed | Symptoms usually start improving within days of starting treatment — always finish the course |
Antibiotics are prescription-only medicines: supply follows the consultation and depends on clinical suitability.
UTI treatment prices
An NHS service — you only ever pay prescription rates.
| Service | Price | What’s included |
|---|---|---|
| NHS Pharmacy First consultation | Free | Assessment against the NHS UTI pathway, advice and referral where needed |
| Antibiotic course (if supplied) | NHS prescription rate | Charged like a normal prescription — free if you’re exempt from prescription charges |
A consultation may not always result in an antibiotic supply — mild UTIs often clear with self-care, and we’ll always tell you honestly.
How it works
Walk in and ask
No appointment needed — just ask for the UTI service at the counter.
Private consultation
A pharmacist reviews your symptoms against the NHS clinical pathway.
Leave with the right option
Treatment where appropriate, self-care advice where it isn’t, GP referral when needed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost?
The consultation is free under NHS Pharmacy First. If antibiotics are supplied, they’re charged like a normal prescription — free if you’re exempt from prescription charges.
Who is eligible?
Women aged 16–64 with symptoms of an uncomplicated lower UTI. Men, children, over-64s and pregnant women need to see a GP instead — those infections need a different level of assessment.
Is a UTI a sexually transmitted infection?
No. Sex can trigger cystitis by transferring bacteria, but a UTI is not an STI.
Will it clear up on its own?
Mild cases often do, within a couple of days. If symptoms last more than 3 days, are getting worse, or include fever or blood in your urine, get assessed.
How quickly does treatment work?
Symptoms usually start improving within days of starting an antibiotic course. Always finish the full course, even once you feel better.
What if I keep getting UTIs?
Recurrent infections deserve investigation — we’ll advise on prevention (hydration, hygiene habits, contraception choices, cotton underwear) and refer you to your GP where a pattern needs looking into.
Rated by 1,200+ patients of our Camberley pharmacy and clinics.
GPhC registered pharmacy 1105418 · Superintendent pharmacist Jirina Thielens (GPhC 2069634).
This guide follows UK national health guidance (NHS) and was last reviewed in August 2026. Recommendations can change — your consultation always reflects the latest advice.
UTI symptoms? Don’t wait it out in discomfort
Walk into VSM Pharmacy Camberley for a free NHS consultation — open Monday to Saturday.
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