Since launching in 2023, thousands of women across the Midlands are going to local pharmacies on the high street to start, continue and review oral contraception in hundreds of participating pharmacies across the region through the NHS Pharmacy Contraception Service.

The service has transformed how women across the Midlands access contraception – offering faster, easier, and more convenient care directly from local pharmacies.

In the West Midlands, almost 2000 pharmacies can provide the service and have completed over 70,000 consultations over a recent 12-month period.

As the service reaches its two-year anniversary, pharmacists and NHS leaders are celebrating the growing role of these local community pharmacies in women’s health, as the public welcome pharmacists providing these services which they are highly skilled and trained for.

Jackie Buxton, Pharmacy lead for the NHS in the Midlands said “This service has been a real success story for women’s health. Two years on, we have seen how much women value being able to access contraception easily, safely, and close to home. Community pharmacies are now a vital part of providing free NHS services, giving women more choice and freeing up thousands of GP appointments for other patients”

 Mal Singh, Pharmacist at Walkers Pharmacy in Birmingham said ‘The main benefit for our patients is easier access to consultations. We’re open six days a week and offer walk in appointments at times that suit their busy schedules, this has been a game-changer.

Patients also really value the opportunity to speak directly with a clinician about their contraceptive options – it’s empowering for them to make informed choices in a convenient and supportive setting.

We work in partnership with our local GP surgery and this service has made a noticeable impact. By taking on these consultations, we’ve helped free up precious appointment slots with clinicians and nursing staff, allowing them to focus on more urgent or complex cases. In today’s overstretched NHS, that extra capacity makes a big difference.

The feedback we’ve received has been overwhelmingly positive. Patients appreciate the flexibility and accessibility and to be able to speak to a pharmacist should they have any concerns.

Pharmacists can now provide expert advice and treatment for a growing list of common conditions, as well as contraception which covers seven common conditions including urinary tract infections, sore throat and sinusitis, and free blood pressure checks (for those aged over 40, not previously diagnosed with high blood pressure (hypertension).

The NHS Pharmacy Contraception Service is part of a wider pharmacy programme. At the end of last month, this further expanded to include emergency contraception, offering women even greater flexibility. The emergency contraception service allows women to get the ‘morning after pill’ for free from participating pharmacies after a consultation from the pharmacist.

Find a pharmacy that offers the contraceptive pill without a prescription – NHS

Find emergency contraception – NHS