Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to improve (a) awareness and (b) treatment of (i) chronic and (ii) recurrent urinary tract infections.

The Department recognises the impact that chronic and recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) can have on patients’ quality of life, and is committed to improving awareness, diagnosis, and treatment.

The Government is funding work to understand the research gaps on chronic and recurrent UTIs that matter most to patients, carers, and clinicians.

The UK Health Security Agency and NHS England ran a campaign during July 2025 to highlight UTI prevention messages for older adults, as this age group is more likely than others to be admitted to hospital for UTI.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has published clinical guidance and referral pathways for recurrent UTIs, supporting clinicians to recognise symptoms, carry out appropriate testing, and refer patients for specialist assessment where needed. NHS England supports primary care through clinical guidance, responsible use of antimicrobial drugs, and professional education to improve management of UTIs.