Mon — Fri 9am to 6pm · Sat 9am to 5pm ● 0121 472 0155 ● Walk-ins welcome
Selly Pharmacy
Bristol Road · B29
0121 472 0155 Nominate EPS →
Home/NHS Services/UTI Service

UTI Service · Pharmacy First

Burning when you wee? Going more often than usual? Under the NHS Pharmacy First scheme, women aged 16 to 64 can come straight to us for assessment and, where appropriate, antibiotics — no GP appointment needed.

Call to book · 0121 472 0155 →

Urinary tract infections are common and uncomfortable, but most uncomplicated cases in non-pregnant women aged 16 to 64 can be treated quickly at the pharmacy under NHS Pharmacy First.

If you are a University of Birmingham student living in Selly Oak, Bournbrook or Bournville, you do not need to register with a new GP just to get UTI treatment — you can walk in to Selly Pharmacy and be seen the same day under NHS Pharmacy First.

Who is eligible?

The NHS Pharmacy First UTI service is for:

  • Women aged 16 to 64 with symptoms of an uncomplicated lower UTI.
  • Patients not pregnant or breastfeeding.
  • Patients without recurrent UTIs (more than 2 in 6 months or 3 in 12 months) — these need GP follow-up.

Symptoms we look for

Typical UTI symptoms include:

  • Pain or burning when passing urine (dysuria).
  • Needing to go more often than usual.
  • Cloudy or strong-smelling urine.
  • Lower abdominal discomfort.
  • Blood in the urine.

What happens in the consultation

Walk in or call ahead. The consultation is private and takes about 15 to 20 minutes.

  • We take a brief history of your symptoms.
  • We may take a urine sample for a quick dipstick test.
  • We assess against the NICE clinical criteria for uncomplicated UTI.
  • Where appropriate, we issue a course of antibiotics (usually nitrofurantoin or trimethoprim) on the spot.
  • We give you self-care advice and tell you what to do if symptoms do not improve.

Who is not eligible (and what to do)

If any of the following apply, you should see your GP or call NHS 111 instead — not the pharmacy:

  • You are pregnant or breastfeeding.
  • You are male, or under 16, or 65 or over.
  • You have a fever, back pain, vomiting or feel very unwell (signs of upper UTI / kidney infection).
  • You have had a UTI in the past 30 days that did not fully resolve.
  • You have a urinary catheter.

If antibiotics do not help

If your symptoms have not improved within 48 hours of starting antibiotics, or are getting worse, please come back and see us or contact your GP. Sometimes a different antibiotic is needed.

To book or ask a question, call 0121 472 0155. Walk-ins are welcome during opening hours, but a quick call ahead helps us be ready for you.

Frequently asked

Common questions

Quick answers to the things people most often ask. Anything else, just call us on 0121 472 0155 or pop in.

Can pharmacists prescribe antibiotics for a UTI?
Yes. Under the NHS Pharmacy First scheme, our pharmacists can assess women aged 16 to 64 with symptoms of an uncomplicated lower urinary tract infection and prescribe antibiotics where clinically appropriate, without you needing to see a GP first.
Do I need an appointment?
No. Walk in any time during opening hours. A quick call to 0121 472 0155 ahead of your visit helps us be ready for you, especially during busy periods.
Is the consultation private?
Yes. We have a dedicated private consultation room at the back of the pharmacy. No one in the shop will overhear your discussion.
How long does a UTI consultation take?
Most consultations take 15 to 20 minutes. If we prescribe antibiotics, you walk out with them in hand.
Is the service free?
The consultation itself is free under the NHS. If you are eligible for free NHS prescriptions, the antibiotics are free too. Otherwise, the standard NHS prescription charge applies (currently £9.90 per item).
Can University of Birmingham students use this service?
Yes. Any patient registered with an English NHS GP can use Pharmacy First. Many University of Birmingham students living in Selly Oak use us as their walk-in option for UTIs.
What if I'm not eligible — can the pharmacist still help?
If you fall outside the eligibility criteria (for example, you are pregnant, male, under 16, or 65 and over), we cannot prescribe under Pharmacy First. We will explain why, advise on what to do next, and where appropriate help you contact your GP or NHS 111.
Can I get a UTI test without antibiotics?
Yes. If you simply want to know whether your symptoms are likely to be a UTI, we can dipstick-test your urine and discuss the result with you. You are under no obligation to be prescribed anything.
Related services

You might also need

NHS Contraception Service
View service →
Emergency Contraception
View service →
All NHS Pharmacy First services
View service →
Visit us

On Bristol Road, in the heart of Selly Oak.

Right on Bristol Road, directly opposite Tesco Express and the Esso petrol station — two minutes from Selly Oak station, opposite the University of Birmingham campus, with on-street parking nearby. Walk in, or call ahead — we're easy to find and easier to talk to.

Address
Unit 2, 480 Bristol Road,
Selly Oak, Birmingham,
West Midlands, B29 6BD
Telephone
0121 472 0155
Email
hello@sellypharmacy.co.uk
Get directions → Call to book →
Opening hours

Open six days a week

Monday
9:00 — 18:00
Tuesday
9:00 — 18:00
Wednesday
9:00 — 18:00
Thursday
9:00 — 18:00
Friday
9:00 — 18:00
Saturday
9:00 — 17:00
Sunday
Closed
Closed Sundays and bank holidays. For urgent out-of-hours care, please call NHS 111 or visit nhs.uk for your nearest open pharmacy.