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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To phone 111 for a UTI?

32 replies

Skint2022 · 29/01/2023 08:26

Hello

I’ve not slept and really struggling with the discomfort and pain from a very obvious UTI. I can’t phone GP until tomorrow morning at 8.30am and I know from past experience that this is only going to get worse. Would I be prescribed antibiotics over the phone if I rang 111 (I’m in Scotland)? Boots do an online doctor but looks as if I wouldn’t be able to get antibiotics until tomorrow earliest anyway? I’ve a huge week work wise and I really can’t afford the time off. Arghhh please help. I’m downing water and have taken some of the cranberry sachets that I had in the cupboard but nothing is providing relief.

OP posts:
KangarooKenny · 29/01/2023 08:28

I’d try it

GoodChat · 29/01/2023 08:30

Do the online service. They'll give you an option to get a call back. It's better than waiting in the queue for the same result x

moita · 29/01/2023 08:30

Yes I would. I had a UTI turn into a kidney infection once...not to scare you

Savoretti · 29/01/2023 08:31

I don’t know about Scotland but in England you would be offered an OOH doctor appt who could prescribe do you.
But I have also heard Boots can do this - it’s worth popping in if they can prescribe on the spot?

CableTidy · 29/01/2023 08:32

You can go to a pharmacy and they can prescribe. I'm in Scotland and had this before and it was a life saver

KangarooKenny · 29/01/2023 08:33

I did the online form and got a call back. Better than sitting on the phone.

Xrays · 29/01/2023 08:33

In England they’d prescribe antibiotics over the phone for you via 111 and you’d be able to pick them up today so definitely worth a go. (Done this a few times).

Michellebops · 29/01/2023 08:34

Most pharmacies will prescribe a 3 day course of antibiotics for a uti

Michellebops · 29/01/2023 08:34

Especially in Scotland.

DrAddisonForbesMontgomery · 29/01/2023 08:35

Try to find an open pharmacy as they can prescribe antibiotics for a UTI in scotland.
Failing that call 111. UTIs are horrible, I hope you get antibiotics soon.

tabulahrasa · 29/01/2023 08:36

I don’t think they’ll prescribe over the phone themselves , but they can give you an out of hours appointment or phone/video call appointment with someone who can prescribe.

GetDownkeith · 29/01/2023 08:39

You don't need an online dr. The pharmacist can prescribe antibiotics for a uti. Just go to the pharmacy.

Original poster
Skint2022 · 29/01/2023 08:45

Thanks for the advice. Anyone know if the pharmacy can give them to my DH? We are rural but he’s heading to the next town for something else and he could go and try as unsure if the pharmacy is even open. It’s an hour round trip plus I’d then be hanging around anyway waiting for him which I’m too unwell for. Boots opens at 11 but he has to leave before then. I can’t phone and check if the pharmacy within boots is open until then if that makes sense.

OP posts:
halfshutknife · 29/01/2023 08:49

Skint2022 · 29/01/2023 08:45

Thanks for the advice. Anyone know if the pharmacy can give them to my DH? We are rural but he’s heading to the next town for something else and he could go and try as unsure if the pharmacy is even open. It’s an hour round trip plus I’d then be hanging around anyway waiting for him which I’m too unwell for. Boots opens at 11 but he has to leave before then. I can’t phone and check if the pharmacy within boots is open until then if that makes sense.

You could always get him to phone you when he's in there if they don't?

I got abx from boots (Scotland) over new year. Was quite a long form with a lot of questions to answer so if he's anything like my husband I'd imagine he'd need to phone you anyway to complete it.

GloriAAAH · 29/01/2023 08:53

You will get antibiotics today, this is urgent as it can lead to sepsis. They should do as you will most likely be stuck on the toilet & unable to collect yourself. You can ring & tell them he’ll be collecting.

mummyh2016 · 29/01/2023 08:54

Get them today. I had one that turned into a kidney infection as I didn't get antibiotics quick enough.

BridieConvert · 29/01/2023 08:55

Skint2022 · 29/01/2023 08:45

Thanks for the advice. Anyone know if the pharmacy can give them to my DH? We are rural but he’s heading to the next town for something else and he could go and try as unsure if the pharmacy is even open. It’s an hour round trip plus I’d then be hanging around anyway waiting for him which I’m too unwell for. Boots opens at 11 but he has to leave before then. I can’t phone and check if the pharmacy within boots is open until then if that makes sense.

I would think if you'd phoned 111 and they did a prescription your DH would be able to collect. If he just went to the pharmacist on your behalf and said "my wife has a UTI can I have antibiotics" I doubt they would give him them I'd think it would have to be you

QueenOfWeeds · 29/01/2023 08:55

I had previously been told that the pharmacy could give me antibiotics for a UTI, went to 3 local ones near work who all looked at me like I had lost the plot. Tried to order online (which I have done in the past) and didn’t meet the criteria, so DH made me phone 111 for advice. They sent me to A&E, which I thought was a little over dramatic but ended up admitted for 3 days.

Long story short, yes - call them.

IwillrunIwillfly · 29/01/2023 08:58

I dont know about 111 but a pharmacist won't give antibiotics without seeing you amd checking a urine dip, so there's no point in sending dh without you going. Hope you feel better soon.

Original poster
Skint2022 · 29/01/2023 09:04

@QueenOfWeeds oh goodness. Can k ask why you were admitted?

Okay so maybe I should try and phone 111 now in the hope that they can prescribe and DH can collect. Urgh, this is the worst feeling! I’d rather be in labour!

OP posts:
QueenOfWeeds · 29/01/2023 09:07

Possible sepsis and kidney infection.

I did feel pretty rough, but absolutely wasn’t expecting to be admitted. Thought it just seemed like an overly complicated way to get antibiotics to be honest. In the past 111 have also got me an out of hours GP appointment who then prescribed them.

Looneytune253 · 29/01/2023 09:27

Yes you should be able to call 111 and probably get an out of hours docs appointment. I'm a frequent sufferer and have repeat prescriptions on my file so I can usually get them easily BUT before that I would have to see an out of hours doc in person. Do you know where your local walk in centre is? You can either pop in there (but might be a bit of a wait) or on 111 they might make you an appointment for later today but that might also take a while to get thru. Good luck, it's grim but I wouldn't leave it till tomorrow.

Original poster
Skint2022 · 29/01/2023 09:45

Just about to phone 111. DH has left and I’m sat here waiting for the online food order, urgh! Once it’s been I’ll phone and see what they advise. I’ve had them many times before but don’t think I’ve got any notes etc on my file so I’m guessing they will want to give me an out of hours appointment. Don’t think I’ll be able to face getting ready and sitting waiting though. Especially another hour round trip to get there.

OP posts:
Original poster
Skint2022 · 29/01/2023 10:16

On hold now. Says minimum 20min wait. Boots have an ‘online doctor’ that will prescribe antibiotics for £23. Happy to pay but it states that it can take 2-24hours for my order to be processed so chances are that I probably wouldn’t get them until tomorrow anyway which would then be a waste of money if I can get them tomorrow morning from the gp.

OP posts:
Original poster
Skint2022 · 29/01/2023 10:59

Sorry for all the updates just thought they are useful for others searching. So 111 have said that I now need to wait for a call from my local health board regarding my ‘onward care’. Woman on the phone said that will probably mean that they will prescribe me antibiotics and that I can go and collect them today. She also said that they are busy so the call may not be until this afternoon and the pharmacy shuts at 3pm. I asked if I’d be able to just go to pharmacy now and she said I’d unlikely get given antibiotics as they need to be prescribed. So just a wait now and could be in for another uncomfortable day and night if they phone after 3pm. 😓

OP posts: