Dr Allison Gardner, the Labour Member of Parliament for Stoke-on-Trent South, has revealed that her decade-long struggle with chronic urinary tract infections left her feeling like a “drug user” as she desperately sought pain relief. Now, she is spearheading a cross-party parliamentary group aimed at securing an official medical definition for the condition, which currently lacks one despite affecting an estimated 1.6 million women in the UK.
Gardner, 60, began experiencing symptoms around the time of perimenopause. She described the agony as akin to “hot needles being inserted inside” her body, occurring every time she used the toilet. For years, she felt dismissed by medical professionals, reporting that doctors suggested she improve her hygiene or abstain from sex, while others attributed her distress to anxiety or depression.
“You end up hunting for a decent length of antibiotic courses that will give you some relief,” Gardner told the BBC. “You’ve got to fight all the time just to get treated sensibly and [not told] you’ve got anxiety, depression or are attention seeking.”
The lack of recognition and effective treatment pushed the MP to a critical breaking point three years ago. She admitted to considering selling her home to pay for private surgery to remove her bladder. However, her outlook changed after she encountered Dr Cat Anderson, a Staffordshire-based GP specializing in complex UTI cases. Dr. Anderson identified the link to menopause and prescribed Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), which provided Gardner with two years of relief.
While acknowledging the tension with Labour principles regarding free healthcare, Gardner stated she did not judge those who turned to private treatment. “You’re stuck with a choice aren’t you? You either suffer or you go private… so I don’t judge,” she said.
Dr. Anderson is now co-leading a panel of medical experts, including London consultant urological surgeon Sachin Malde, to develop a standardized definition for chronic UTIs. They aim to present this framework to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in 2027.
Currently, chronic UTIs are difficult to diagnose because urine samples often show lower bacterial levels than acute infections. NICE has previously recommended further research to build an evidence base, while NHS England confirmed there is no national dataset specifically tracking chronic UTI as a distinct diagnosis.
The stakes are high. Data from the UK Health Security Agency indicates that UTIs accounted for 1.2 million hospital bed days in 2023-24, costing the NHS over £604 million. Additionally, Dr. Ron Daniels of the UK Sepsis Trust noted that up to 20% of fatal sepsis cases originate from urinary tract infections.
Gardner and Liberal Democrat MP Luke Taylor, who co-chairs the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on the issue, argue that a formal definition is transformative. They are also calling for mandatory GP training on chronic UTIs and the introduction of patient “passports” to ensure individuals do not have to repeatedly recount their medical histories.
The group expressed disappointment that the government’s recent women’s health strategy failed to mention UTIs. In response, a Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson stated they are committed to reducing the impact of the condition and investing in research to ensure women are heard and receive high-quality care.
The suggestion to improve hygiene or that it’s all anxiety is exactly the kind of gaslighting I experienced for years. Thank you, Dr. Gardner.
I didn’t know chronic UTIs lacked an official definition. Does this mean research funding will finally catch up to the patient reality?
This is a vital step forward. Millions of women are suffering in silence because their pain isn’t recognized by the medical system.