UTI Treatment (Pharmacy First)
Women aged 16-64 can get a free NHS assessment — and antibiotics where appropriate — for an uncomplicated UTI at participating pharmacies in England.
Under NHS Pharmacy First, women aged 16 to 64 with symptoms of an uncomplicated urinary tract infection — stinging when passing urine, needing to go more often or urgently, cloudy or strong-smelling urine — can be assessed and treated free at participating pharmacies across England, with no GP appointment needed. Walk in, or be referred by your GP practice or NHS 111. Following a national clinical pathway in a private consultation room, the pharmacist can supply certain prescription-only medicines where clinically appropriate — typically a three-day course of nitrofurantoin — and sends a record to your GP practice. The consultation is free; in England the standard prescription charge of £9.90 applies to any supplied medicine unless you're exempt. Men, pregnant women, under-16s, over-64s, and anyone with recurrent or complicated infections fall outside the pathway and are referred to a GP. Fever, back or side pain, vomiting, or blood in your urine can mean a kidney infection — get same-day help from your GP or NHS 111 instead. Find participating pharmacies via /pharmacies/locations/; our Pharmacy First hub page and UTI answer cover the scheme in full.
Who can get UTI treatment under Pharmacy First?
Women aged 16 to 64 with a suspected uncomplicated UTI. Men, pregnant women, anyone outside that age range, catheter users, and people with recurrent infections — generally two or more in six months or three in a year — are outside the pathway and will be referred to a GP. Our answer on whether a pharmacist can treat a UTI explains why.
Pharmacy First in England is a commissioned NHS clinical pathway. An NHS dispensing contract is not proof this branch offers it today — confirm before you travel. The pharmacist decides suitability and can refer you to a GP.
Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland run their own common-ailment schemes. Do not assume England’s age bands apply outside England.
Is Pharmacy First UTI free on the NHS?
Yes at participating pharmacies, if you fit the service rules. £9.90 per item in England; free in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland applies only when an NHS item is dispensed in England and you are not exempt.
Ask the pharmacist whether this service is running today and whether you are eligible. Commissioning and stock change. If a medicine is supplied on an NHS prescription in England, the national item charge applies unless you are exempt — the pharmacy cannot set its own NHS fee.
Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland do not charge for NHS prescriptions. Their common-ailment schemes are not identical to England’s Pharmacy First.
When should I see a GP instead of using Pharmacy First for a UTI?
Get same-day help from your GP or NHS 111 if you have a high temperature or chills, pain in your back or sides, nausea or vomiting, or blood in your urine — these suggest the infection may have reached your kidneys. Pregnant women and men with urinary symptoms should always go straight to their GP.
This directory cannot triage you. If symptoms worsen after a pharmacy visit, go back, contact NHS 111, or use emergency care. Pick My Pharmacy does not provide clinical advice.
Do I need to bring anything to the consultation?
No — just walk in, though it helps to know your symptoms, any medicines you take, and any allergies. The pharmacist works through the pathway questions, may suggest pain relief, and will tell your GP practice what was supplied. If symptoms haven't improved within 48 hours of starting antibiotics, go back.
Policies differ by branch and by day. Confirm with the pharmacy you intend to visit rather than treating this page as a booking confirmation.
How do I find a pharmacy that offers Pharmacy First UTI?
Use the GPhC-registered sample below, Compare, or the directory. Then confirm the service is offered today and match the premises number on pharmacyregulation.org.
Opening hours are only shown when we have them — we never invent a timetable. Ratings appear only with verified reviews; we never invent scores.
If the cards say none yet, the service is still explained here so you know what to ask a local pharmacist. Use Compare with your postcode rather than assuming a nearby branch is listed for this slug.
How do I check the pharmacy is legitimate?
Search the GPhC premises number on pharmacyregulation.org and match the address before you send ID, start a consultation, or pay.
Great Britain community and internet pharmacies must be on that register. Online prescribing services in England should also be CQC-registered. A website that sells prescription-only medicines with no consultation is not a legitimate pharmacy service.
Pick My Pharmacy is an independent directory. We do not supply medicines.
Typical cost
Free on the NHS (where eligible)
0 pharmacies with pharmacy first uti confirmed on their profile
We do not yet have GPhC-registered pharmacies tagged for pharmacy first uti in this snapshot. The education on this page still applies — ask a local pharmacist, or use Compare. A missing card is not proof the service does not exist nearby.
We only list a pharmacy here when the service is confirmed on its profile, so this is not every pharmacy that offers it. To check a pharmacy near you, open your town or city page and phone ahead.
Ratings and rankings are our editorial opinion, based on our publishedmethodology — they are not medical advice and pharmacies cannot pay to change a score. Where a pharmacy has no reviews we show "Not yet rated" — we never invent scores.Listings labelled Featured orReferral partner are paid placements; payment affects visibility only, never ratings or match results. We may receive a fee when you send a private-service enquiry.Private service prices are indicative — always confirm directly with the pharmacy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can get UTI treatment under Pharmacy First?▼
Women aged 16 to 64 with a suspected uncomplicated UTI. Men, pregnant women, anyone outside that age range, catheter users, and people with recurrent infections — generally two or more in six months or three in a year — are outside the pathway and will be referred to a GP. Our answer on whether a pharmacist can treat a UTI explains why.
Which antibiotic will the pharmacist supply for a UTI?▼
Where the clinical criteria are met, the usual supply under the pathway is a three-day course of nitrofurantoin. If that isn't suitable — because of allergy, kidney problems, or interacting medicines — the pharmacist will refer you to a GP rather than substitute freely.
Is the Pharmacy First UTI consultation free?▼
The consultation is free on the NHS. If a medicine is supplied in England, the standard prescription charge of £9.90 applies unless you're exempt from prescription charges. Scotland's NHS Pharmacy First Scotland scheme covers UTIs under its own rules, including medicines free of charge.
When should I see a GP instead of using Pharmacy First for a UTI?▼
Get same-day help from your GP or NHS 111 if you have a high temperature or chills, pain in your back or sides, nausea or vomiting, or blood in your urine — these suggest the infection may have reached your kidneys. Pregnant women and men with urinary symptoms should always go straight to their GP.
Do I need to bring anything to the consultation?▼
No — just walk in, though it helps to know your symptoms, any medicines you take, and any allergies. The pharmacist works through the pathway questions, may suggest pain relief, and will tell your GP practice what was supplied. If symptoms haven't improved within 48 hours of starting antibiotics, go back.
How do I check a pharmacy offering pharmacy first uti is GPhC-registered?▼
Open the listing, copy the premises registration number, and search it on pharmacyregulation.org. Match the name and address before you send ID, start a consultation, or pay. Pick My Pharmacy is a directory — we do not supply pharmacy first uti.
Does Pick My Pharmacy provide pharmacy first uti?▼
No. We compare GPhC-registered pharmacies. The pharmacy you choose supplies the service after its own clinical checks. Paid placements are labelled and never change a rating.
Related guides
Sources
- NHS: Pharmacy First · checked 2026-09-01
- Pick My Pharmacy methodology