NHS updates official advice on Chronic UTI for patients after pressure from campaigners

[Sly Saint]

The NHS has updated its official advice on chronic urinary tract infections (UTIs) for patients after pressure from campaigners and sufferers.

A recent update to the NHS webpage for UTIs now includes a section explaining that current tests do not always pick up chronic infections and that they are caused by bacteria embedding into the bladder lining.

It also advises patients to ask their GP to refer them to a specialist if they have been treated for a UTI that keeps coming back and acknowledges that chronic infections can have a “big impact” on a patient’s quality of life.

Campaigners have hailed this as a “huge step forward” as it means patients can point GPs and urologists towards the webpage if they are concerned they have the condition or if they have already been diagnosed and feel their illness is misunderstood.

A spokesperson from the Chronic Urinary Tract Infection Campaign (CUTIC) said the update is “vital” as it means patients will “no longer be gaslighted, misdiagnosed or prescribed inadequate treatments”.

But they added that more needs to be done to help patients get the treatment they “desperately” need, with more NHS specialist treatment clinics and a set of guidelines for diagnosis and treatment.

The NHS did not publicly recognise on its website that chronic urinary tract infections existed until March last year, despite having a clinic that treats the condition. Its webpage for cystitis was updated to acknowledge the existence of “long-term (chronic) UTIs” as infections that are “not picked up by current tests”.

But the separate webpage on UTIs has now been updated with a section that discusses chronic UTI as a distinct condition with more tailor made advice for patients and health professionals.

NHS updates official advice on Chronic UTI for patients after pressure from campaigners (msn.com)