Women will be able to be prescribed the contraceptive pill for free on the NHS without seeing a GP for the first time in a new pilot scheme.
Currently, a woman wanting to start taking a contraceptive pill can either pay for a specific type of pill at a pharmacy or get it for free by seeing her GP who can issue a prescription.
But the new NHS pilot scheme is the first time women will be able to get the pill at no cost without the need for a doctor’s appointment.
It is part of a drive to get more primary care performed in local pharmacies and not GP surgeries to make it more convenient for patients, as pharmacists are highly trained and more accessible than GPs who are often fully booked.
The move will also alleviate some of the burden on overstretched GPs and free them up to see more patients with more severe health concerns.
**Two pharmacies have already registered for scheme**
It was reported by the Pharmaceutical Journal that two pharmacies, one in Stoke-on-Trent and one in Portsmouth, have registered for the pilot, however The Telegraph understands that no woman has yet to use the pilot as it is still being set up.
But the plan received approval at the end of September from NHS England pharmacy chiefs and is expected to go live soon with women able to, for the first time, get access to the contraceptive pill without needing to see their GP first.
NHS England previously announced that sites across the country have signed up to Tier one of the NHS community pharmacy contraception management service pilot.
Under this first stage of the project, women were be able to go to their pharmacists for the regular check-ups regarding the pill, which are done annually.
There are believed to be 281 pharmacies registered for this part of the project in England, including in Derby, Reading, North London and Lincoln.
It’s expected that this will be rolled out nationwide in early 2023 and that tier 2, which broadens pharmacists powers and removes the need for a GP entirely, is trialled.
Official NHS guidance about the tier 2 pilot states that pharmacists who take part and prescribe the pill will only be able to give out three months’ worth of pills initially.
**Patients will eventually be able to get one year worth of pills from pharmacy**
After this period the tier 1 protocol will then come into force and a patient can go back to their pharmacist and get a prescription for up to 12 months’ worth of tablets.
Each person who uses the tier 2 service will have a consultation with a pharmacist, have their BMI measured and also have their blood pressure taken.
The NHS will cover the cost of the consultation and prescription to the tune of £18.50 and £3.50, respectively, with the patient not having to pay out any money.
Gareth Jones, the director of corporate affairs at the National Pharmacy Association, called the pilot “a landmark moment in improving access to sexual health services and women’s health”.
Janet Barter, the president of the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare, said she “fully supports” the move to allow pharmacists to prescribe contraceptive tablets.
“The fragmented sexual and reproductive healthcare system is notoriously difficult for women to navigate, and successive cuts to public health budgets have made it even harder for women to access the contraception they need,” she told the Pharmaceutical Journal. .
“This move will make it easier for women to access essential contraception to avoid unplanned pregnancies and could also relieve unnecessary pressures on GPs.”
Isn’t it already available without prescription on websites like dr fox?
Good idea, it frees GPs to do other work and you can go see them if pill has side effects
I am not sure I like this. The pill is great, but getting the initial prescription from a doctor has some benefits, not in terms of direct drug and comorbidity interactions, but also in education.
Sexual health and protection is not only about birth control, but also disease, and we should be emphasising barrier controls first and foremost, for both.
I am not suggesting that repeat prescriptions should require doctors visits, but the very first prescription benefits from a conversation with a professional, not to put anyone off, but to discuss alternatives, best use, side effects and what happens when you miss one, for example.
I am not espousing a reduction in prescriptions, I am morning a loss of educational consultation.
Also, why just for women?
[edit:espousing, not exposing]
Every time I’ve seen a doctor for mine they’ve taken my blood pressure to check I’m okay to have it, is this something that won’t happen any more?
That is brilliant news. Where I used to live there was a sexual health/family planning walk-in clinic every week, which was great, but where I’ve moved to it’s like there were 25 GPs who merged into one ‘group surgery ‘ with a couple of receptionists, and getting an appointment is near impossible. As far as I know there is no walk-in clinic – I’ve never been able to talk to anyone to ask!
You can already get contraception without seeing a GP. Make an appointment with the nurse practitioner at your GP practice. They have loads more appointment slots available and most of them have a prescribing qualification and can prescribe contraceptives.
4 months ago I needed another pill prescription, and ten days before I ran out I phoned my local doctor’s surgery. The receptionist did not understand that I had no real issue I just needed the Dr to reissue my prescription, they were so busy she said instead come to the surgery and use the blood pressure machine, give us the results and we will get a nurse to ring you back. They never rang back, every time I phoned up again it was the same thing. They had so many people needing appointments I felt they couldn’t justify giving me those ten mins.
I need the pill as I suffer from extreme PMS/PMDD so I ended up using the the blood pressure readings to order from Superdrug. It was sorted so quickly and made me wonder why the NHS doesn’t do something similar. Had to pay ofc.
The NHS is so broken it made me sad, I was lucky I could afford to pay. Would be very happy if this could be arranged with my local pharmacy
I’ve definitely had this free already from a pharmacy, but maybe that’s because I’m in wales 🤔
They should have to wait 6 years to see a specialist like many other health conditions.
About fucking time! I already buy mine through an online pharmacy because it’s such a pain to get a GP appointment, and once the GP arbitrarily decided I didn’t need them anymore and cut me off. A different GP reversed that decision, but I don’t trust them anymore and I’d rather handle it myself.
Also please to see we’ll be able to get 12 months at a time. I’m not originally from the UK and in my home country 12 months was the standard, every three months was another PITA I don’t need.
Good. Will they take you into the ‘room of shame’ like they do with plan b?
Good. Hormone control is one of the greatest medical achievements of the modern age.
Seems very reasonable, I don’t see who would be opposed
Is that to speed up the process or because there are no doctors for anyone to see
As long as it can’t be abused the system for greedy buggers who want to sell it
“alleviate some of the burden on overstretched GPs” aye cos in pharmacies we’re just sitting around drinking tea and twiddling our thumbs! It feels like more and more services are being passed over to pharmacies when we are pretty stretched as it is.
Wrong wrong wrong. The contraceptive pill is a medication which can cause significant adverse effects and is not suitable for everyone, for example people with a personal or family history of breast cancer, or those with a history of blood clots. It should be given under the supervision of a GP for me. The fact that people struggle to access it is not a reason to deregulate the supply, but is a reflection on how utterly broken the NHS is as a whole. This is not the answer.
I’m not sure how I feel about this. Improving access to contraception is important yes, and god knows how difficult it is to get a GP appointment these days.
But there is a good reason it’s generally a prescription only thing and that regular check ups are a thing. I know this article says that the pharmacist would be doing BP/BMI checks but, I dunno, I don’t feel comfortable about removing the GP element of this at all.
This is also a classic Tory solution – instead of fixing access/availability of GPs, lets just outsource the problem to the equally overworked pharmacists! Problem solved! /s
Good. Some can’t afford £30 for Levonelle, let alone the better part of a decade’s worth of nappies.
I do hope pharmacists will still do basic health checks. The pill can be quite dangerous to some women. Eg I’m not allowed the combined pill because I’m over 30 and have a bmi over 35. If I took it, I’d be at higher risk of clots.
21 comments
[Archive Link](https://archive.vn/NGRVI). Article text follows.
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Credit: Joe Pinkstone, Science Correspondent
Women will be able to be prescribed the contraceptive pill for free on the NHS without seeing a GP for the first time in a new pilot scheme.
Currently, a woman wanting to start taking a contraceptive pill can either pay for a specific type of pill at a pharmacy or get it for free by seeing her GP who can issue a prescription.
But the new NHS pilot scheme is the first time women will be able to get the pill at no cost without the need for a doctor’s appointment.
It is part of a drive to get more primary care performed in local pharmacies and not GP surgeries to make it more convenient for patients, as pharmacists are highly trained and more accessible than GPs who are often fully booked.
The move will also alleviate some of the burden on overstretched GPs and free them up to see more patients with more severe health concerns.
**Two pharmacies have already registered for scheme**
It was reported by the Pharmaceutical Journal that two pharmacies, one in Stoke-on-Trent and one in Portsmouth, have registered for the pilot, however The Telegraph understands that no woman has yet to use the pilot as it is still being set up.
But the plan received approval at the end of September from NHS England pharmacy chiefs and is expected to go live soon with women able to, for the first time, get access to the contraceptive pill without needing to see their GP first.
NHS England previously announced that sites across the country have signed up to Tier one of the NHS community pharmacy contraception management service pilot.
Under this first stage of the project, women were be able to go to their pharmacists for the regular check-ups regarding the pill, which are done annually.
There are believed to be 281 pharmacies registered for this part of the project in England, including in Derby, Reading, North London and Lincoln.
It’s expected that this will be rolled out nationwide in early 2023 and that tier 2, which broadens pharmacists powers and removes the need for a GP entirely, is trialled.
Official NHS guidance about the tier 2 pilot states that pharmacists who take part and prescribe the pill will only be able to give out three months’ worth of pills initially.
**Patients will eventually be able to get one year worth of pills from pharmacy**
After this period the tier 1 protocol will then come into force and a patient can go back to their pharmacist and get a prescription for up to 12 months’ worth of tablets.
Each person who uses the tier 2 service will have a consultation with a pharmacist, have their BMI measured and also have their blood pressure taken.
The NHS will cover the cost of the consultation and prescription to the tune of £18.50 and £3.50, respectively, with the patient not having to pay out any money.
Gareth Jones, the director of corporate affairs at the National Pharmacy Association, called the pilot “a landmark moment in improving access to sexual health services and women’s health”.
Janet Barter, the president of the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare, said she “fully supports” the move to allow pharmacists to prescribe contraceptive tablets.
“The fragmented sexual and reproductive healthcare system is notoriously difficult for women to navigate, and successive cuts to public health budgets have made it even harder for women to access the contraception they need,” she told the Pharmaceutical Journal. .
“This move will make it easier for women to access essential contraception to avoid unplanned pregnancies and could also relieve unnecessary pressures on GPs.”
Isn’t it already available without prescription on websites like dr fox?
Good idea, it frees GPs to do other work and you can go see them if pill has side effects
I am not sure I like this. The pill is great, but getting the initial prescription from a doctor has some benefits, not in terms of direct drug and comorbidity interactions, but also in education.
Sexual health and protection is not only about birth control, but also disease, and we should be emphasising barrier controls first and foremost, for both.
I am not suggesting that repeat prescriptions should require doctors visits, but the very first prescription benefits from a conversation with a professional, not to put anyone off, but to discuss alternatives, best use, side effects and what happens when you miss one, for example.
I am not espousing a reduction in prescriptions, I am morning a loss of educational consultation.
Also, why just for women?
[edit:espousing, not exposing]
Every time I’ve seen a doctor for mine they’ve taken my blood pressure to check I’m okay to have it, is this something that won’t happen any more?
That is brilliant news. Where I used to live there was a sexual health/family planning walk-in clinic every week, which was great, but where I’ve moved to it’s like there were 25 GPs who merged into one ‘group surgery ‘ with a couple of receptionists, and getting an appointment is near impossible. As far as I know there is no walk-in clinic – I’ve never been able to talk to anyone to ask!
You can already get contraception without seeing a GP. Make an appointment with the nurse practitioner at your GP practice. They have loads more appointment slots available and most of them have a prescribing qualification and can prescribe contraceptives.
4 months ago I needed another pill prescription, and ten days before I ran out I phoned my local doctor’s surgery. The receptionist did not understand that I had no real issue I just needed the Dr to reissue my prescription, they were so busy she said instead come to the surgery and use the blood pressure machine, give us the results and we will get a nurse to ring you back. They never rang back, every time I phoned up again it was the same thing. They had so many people needing appointments I felt they couldn’t justify giving me those ten mins.
I need the pill as I suffer from extreme PMS/PMDD so I ended up using the the blood pressure readings to order from Superdrug. It was sorted so quickly and made me wonder why the NHS doesn’t do something similar. Had to pay ofc.
The NHS is so broken it made me sad, I was lucky I could afford to pay. Would be very happy if this could be arranged with my local pharmacy
I’ve definitely had this free already from a pharmacy, but maybe that’s because I’m in wales 🤔
They should have to wait 6 years to see a specialist like many other health conditions.
About fucking time! I already buy mine through an online pharmacy because it’s such a pain to get a GP appointment, and once the GP arbitrarily decided I didn’t need them anymore and cut me off. A different GP reversed that decision, but I don’t trust them anymore and I’d rather handle it myself.
Also please to see we’ll be able to get 12 months at a time. I’m not originally from the UK and in my home country 12 months was the standard, every three months was another PITA I don’t need.
Good. Will they take you into the ‘room of shame’ like they do with plan b?
Good. Hormone control is one of the greatest medical achievements of the modern age.
Seems very reasonable, I don’t see who would be opposed
Is that to speed up the process or because there are no doctors for anyone to see
As long as it can’t be abused the system for greedy buggers who want to sell it
“alleviate some of the burden on overstretched GPs” aye cos in pharmacies we’re just sitting around drinking tea and twiddling our thumbs! It feels like more and more services are being passed over to pharmacies when we are pretty stretched as it is.
Wrong wrong wrong. The contraceptive pill is a medication which can cause significant adverse effects and is not suitable for everyone, for example people with a personal or family history of breast cancer, or those with a history of blood clots. It should be given under the supervision of a GP for me. The fact that people struggle to access it is not a reason to deregulate the supply, but is a reflection on how utterly broken the NHS is as a whole. This is not the answer.
I’m not sure how I feel about this. Improving access to contraception is important yes, and god knows how difficult it is to get a GP appointment these days.
But there is a good reason it’s generally a prescription only thing and that regular check ups are a thing. I know this article says that the pharmacist would be doing BP/BMI checks but, I dunno, I don’t feel comfortable about removing the GP element of this at all.
This is also a classic Tory solution – instead of fixing access/availability of GPs, lets just outsource the problem to the equally overworked pharmacists! Problem solved! /s
Good. Some can’t afford £30 for Levonelle, let alone the better part of a decade’s worth of nappies.
I do hope pharmacists will still do basic health checks. The pill can be quite dangerous to some women. Eg I’m not allowed the combined pill because I’m over 30 and have a bmi over 35. If I took it, I’d be at higher risk of clots.