Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the efficacy of different methods of testing for lower urinary tract infections; and if he will make it his policy to encourage the establishment of clinics for lower urinary tract infections in each Health Authority.

In England, it is the responsibility of National Health Service commissioners to make decisions on individual treatments and methods of testing for urinary tract infections on the basis of the available evidence, taking into account guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) where available. NICE guidance is always evidence based, adhering to the latest clinical thinking and research to determine the best treatment for patients.

The majority of large teaching hospitals in England do have specialist urology centres embedded within which provide effective assessment and management advice for people with urinary symptoms. Such centres have the advantage of the ability to check for a range of conditions, and are best placed to ensure an accurate diagnosis so that appropriate treatment can be offered.