Free ‘morning after pill’ for women at high street pharmacies
In the “biggest change to sexual health services since the 1960s”, the oral emergency contraception pill will be available for free to women from almost 10,000 pharmacies across the country without needing to see their GP or get an appointment at a sexual health clinic.
As part of a major expansion of pharmacy services announced by NHS England, people starting treatment with anti-depressants will also be able to seek additional advice and support about their medication and healthy lifestyle changes from their local pharmacist.
Earlier this year, pharmacies also began offering oral contraceptive pill consultations and repeat supplies, allowing women to start or continue the supply of their regular contraception from their local pharmacy.
The initiative is part of a wider package of support for community pharmacies and expanding access to NHS services, helping people to get the care they need in convenient, familiar settings.
From today, people who have been newly prescribed antidepressants will also be able to seek additional advice and support about their medication and healthy lifestyle changes from their local pharmacist.
Anyone aged 18 collecting their new prescription for anti-depressants will be able to get more information from their local pharmacist about how the medication is working and address any concerns they may have, they can also arrange a follow up telephone chat if they prefer.
This is one of the biggest changes to sexual health services since the 1960s and a game-changer in making reproductive healthcare more easily accessible for women.
