Member for Badcoe Jayne Stinson will move to set up a parliamentary inquiry into improving timely access to medication for urinary tract infection sufferers.

50 per cent of South Australian women will suffer a painful urinary tract infection (UTI) making it a common women’s health complaint. One in 20 men will also be afflicted.

A UTI is commonly caused by bacteria in the urethra, bladder and/or kidneys and is often difficult to predict or prevent. The infection causes intense pain during urination, the constant sensation of needing to urinate and discomfort throughout the period of infection.

Currently sufferers must book an appointment with a GP to obtain a script for medication. For many people, this can mean days of pain and discomfort before securing an appointment and effective treatment. For those in country and remote areas, the wait may be much longer.

If left untreated, or if treatment is delayed, the condition can result in admission to hospital for kidney infection or other complications.

Queensland has recently allowed specially-trained pharmacists to assess patients and provide UTI medication, following a successful pilot program.

The NSW government has this week announced legislation to allow pharmacists to provide a wider range of medications. It is important to note the SA Select Committee inquiry will focus only on UTI treatment.

If established, the House of Assembly Select Committee will comprise five members and will report to Parliament in 2023. The motion will next come before the Parliament on Thursday 1 December.

Quotes

Attributable to Jayne Stinson

Anyone who’s ever experienced a UTI knows how excruciating it is.

It can suddenly stop you from being able to work, care for others, or enjoy activities – until you can book a GP appointment, get a script and buy medicine.

Each year tens of thousands of women experience the unexpected, sharp pain of a UTI – often at inconvenient times or in uncomfortable situations.

It’s unreasonable for women to be regularly forced to endure this pain when we could allow trained pharmacists to provide swift diagnosis and treatment in many cases.

There are also many women and men who can’t access treatment – or can’t access it quickly enough – who end up in our emergency departments with avoidable complications.

Queenslanders now have the right to access this medication from specially-trained pharmacists. Why aren’t SA women granted that relief?

Attributable to Chris Picton

Many women regularly require access to UTI medications and that access needs to be timely and safe.

I welcome this inquiry which will carefully examine the evidence from interstate models and how we can best improve access here in South Australia.

This is an important first step in examining the evidence of expanding access to improve outcomes for so many South Australians experiencing such a painful – and common – health complaint.