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Thousands in West Midlands visit local pharmacies to begin or get a repeat supply of oral contraception

This World Contraception Day (26 September), the NHS in the Midlands is reminding women across the region that they can visit their community pharmacy to begin or receive a repeat supply of oral contraception.

World Contraception Day aims to improve awareness of contraception and to enable people to make informed choices on their sexual and reproductive health. Over 959 West Midlands community pharmacies now offer this contraception service to local people without the need for them to visit their GP providing convenience and easy access for people in their local area.

So far over 24,000 (April – August 24) women in the Midlands including over 13,400 in West Midlands have benefitted from being seen at a community pharmacy for initiating or a repeat supply of oral contraception.

The service which launched as a pilot last year saw pharmacists initially offering repeat supply of oral contraception to people following an initial consultation and prescription from their GP. Following its success, the service was developed to allow pharmacists to be able to initiate, supply and advise on oral contraception. It aims to offer people greater choice and access when considering starting or continuing their current form of oral contraception.

It also supports the important and evolving role community pharmacists play to help address health inequalities by providing wider healthcare access in their communities and signposting service users to local sexual health services.

An additional benefit is the increased capacity for GP practices and sexual health clinics allowing them to support meeting the demand for more complex assessments.

Patients can self-refer to a community pharmacy, or they may be referred by their GP, sexual health clinic or another NHS service. They will then be offered a confidential consultation in a private consultation room and a shared decision will be made together with the pharmacist.

Cymran Kandola, Pharmacist at Wrens Nest Pharmacy said We’re proud to offer the NHS oral contraception service in Dudley as we are always looking for new ways to deliver quality, vital services to those who use our pharmacy.

The service plays a key part in the reproductive health of females of childbearing age. Uptake has been great, we have seen many patients and as it is a walk-in service they don’t need an appointment here and are seen promptly.”

NHS England Regional Chief Pharmacist for the Midlands, Richard Seal said: “This is a great opportunity for pharmacists to utilise more of their skills and we are delighted that over 1650 have already registered to the scheme.

“Since it launched, the number of referrals and consultations have been increasing across the Midlands all the time.”

To see which pharmacies are taking part in the service to offer oral contraception, visit Find a pharmacy that offers the contraceptive pill without a prescription – NHS (www.nhs.uk)