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Did you know?

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Sasta Mon 18-Aug-25 15:58:56

Hi all

I only found this out last weekend, but wanted to highlight this as I think it's important. As you probably know, Pharmacists can now prescribe I think, for five common conditions, one being UTIs. I was away from home last the weekend and very suddenly found I had a very painful a UTI. It was a Sunday and I went to a pharmacy in the town I was staying to ask for help. I was pretty sure I needed antibiotics. The pharmacist said yes, he could help me and proceeded to ask all the relevant questions. Then he asked my age, I said 70. He said 'oh, you don't look it, I'm afraid I can't help you'. I was unaware that this service is only for ages 16-64. I said I was in great pain (but I didn't have a very high temp, just elevated) but all he could suggest was call 111. I said I could have sepsis by midnight. He assured me I wouldn't get it that quickly. I went home and by 1.30am I had a temp of 40, teeth chattering and was freezing cold and felt so unwell, I thought if I go to sleep I'm not going to wake up. I didn't even think of calling 111 then, I know very stupid. I went downstairs and sat waiting for the Surgery to open. Anyway, it's the 16-64 limit I wanted to highlight. I got antibiotics from my GP the following morning which did the trick.

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Nurseundercover Tue 19-Aug-25 23:15:47

Similar to Win’s comment at my GP the receptionist said I would have to put a urine sample in first this would be dip checked by the nurse at some point that day. Depending on the result they would then ask the GP for a prescription. I explained I had a temperature over 40, clammy, bearing down pain, weak and nauseous. As a nurse I knew I had a raging UTI. I had to point out that a positive urine sample is not always the main infection indicator but symptoms were more so. This is due to the ageing process, lack of oestrogen and vaginal atrophy which can all give false negative urine samples. I demanded either a GP appointment or antibiotic prescription. The GP gave me a prescription UTI resolved. I think knowing my body for 68 years entitles me to know what it needs. Come on ladies stand up to ageism.

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Daffydilly Tue 19-Aug-25 23:16:17

Ex pharmacy assistant here. The pharmacist can't prescribe for a uti over 65 as the symptoms can mask something more serious, which is why they refer you to a gp.

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Doodledog Wed 20-Aug-25 00:57:23

Would it make sense if a pharmacist could prescribe to women on HRT who don't have falling oestrogen but have a UTI?

When I went to the GP with mine (about 9 months ago) she just did a dip test and prescribed antibiotics and asked me to bring another sample in three weeks' time to make sure it had been cured. If that hadn't been clear I would have been referred for an ultrasound to check for bladder cancer, but luckily all was well.

A pharmacist could have done that, I'm sure, and informed the surgery in case the patient doesn't follow up. I assume that they record any antibiotics on the patients' records anyway?

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Missiseff Wed 20-Aug-25 19:31:48

Yes I did

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Silverlady333 Thu 21-Aug-25 13:20:29

Re thrush treatments My DH has to intermittently self catheterise. He got a bit sore and wanted some Canasten cream. The pharmacist in Boots also refused to sell it to me, even when I explained it wasn't for me. I went into Superdrug next door. Picked it up from the shelf and bought it without any questions what so ever.

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Floradora9 Thu 21-Aug-25 21:33:41

BlueBelle

You are right Oldnproud and I was refused Chloraphenicol for conjunctivitis at Boots because of my age

It is true but if you buy it on Amazon ( or other online shops ) you can fib about your age if you realy want to buy it .

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