Millions of women across England will be able to get the contraceptive pill over the counter from as early as next month – minus the faff of having to book in for a GP appointment first.
At present, those wanting access to the pill have to make an appointment with their GP before being able to replenish their supply. However, in a bid to tackle growing wait times, the government has announced plans to do away with this in England and instead, making it an option to get your first prescription of the pill by visiting a local pharmacy.
Funding has also been put in place to allow more pharmacies to offer repeat prescriptions of all types of contraceptive pill.
NHS England believes the move could free up as many as 10 million GP appointments.
Pharmacists would not offer health checks for the mini-pill, which is progesterone only. However, women will need a pharmacist check-up on blood pressure and weight if they opt for the combined oestrogen and progestogen pill. If any significant risks are detected, women may be referred back to their GPs for further checks.
“This is really good news for women – we all lead increasingly busy lives, and thanks to this action, rather than making a GP appointment, they can simply pop into their local pharmacy when they need or want to access contraception,” NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard said of the plan.
“We will also be expanding services so that more health checks are available for patients on the high street, which is not only better and easier for patients but also frees up NHS time for more GP appointments for those who need them most.”
Victoria Atkins, the new health and social care secretary, said: “For the public, these changes will mean more options for women when making a choice about their preferred contraception, reduce the risks of people suffering heart attacks and strokes, and make it easier to access medicines for common conditions.”
The move comes after 38 million people in the UK had waited more than a fortnight for an available appointment.
NHS England said it expects almost half a million women to be able to access the pill next year without needing to contact their GP first, with the figure continuing to rise after. Prescription figures for 2022-23 indicate there were almost three million prescriptions for the combined pill and more than four million for the mini pill.
The plan, however, is not without flaws.
While William Pett, the head of policy, public affairs and research at Healthwatch England, has welcomed the move, he has also highlighted concerns such as pharmacists not being able to see a patient’s GP records, or differences in access between different areas of the country.
Pharmacies are also required to sign up for the service, meaning it won’t be widely available everywhere immediately.
Speaking to Cosmopolitan UK, Niamh McMillan, Superdrug Pharmacy Superintendent said:“Supporting healthcare needs within communities is always our priority and we welcome initiatives that make it easier and quicker for people to access healthcare.
“Our pharmacists are highly qualified professionals who work in the heart of communities, building a rapport with their patients to help support their healthcare needs. Many people choose not to visit their GP when they feel unwell and the rollout of the primary care recovery plan will provide them with more choice and more access to healthcare experts when they need it most. ”
She continued: “All our pharmacy team members currently deliver the blood pressure service and are presently undergoing training so they will be ready to support the public with the new contraception services from January and then the additional Pharmacy First services when they launch on the 31st January 2024. These additional services will cover sinusitis, sore throat, earache, infected insect bite, impetigo, shingles, and uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women.”
The news comes as part of a broader plan to allow pharmacies to treat minor ailments, such as sore throats or urinary tract infections.
Chief executive at Community Pharmacy England, Janet Morrison, said of the plan: “It makes perfect sense to use community pharmacies as a first port of call for healthcare advice, access to contraception, and health checks such as blood pressure tests.”
Kimberley Bond is a Multiplatform Writer for Harper’s Bazaar, focusing on the arts, culture, careers and lifestyle. She previously worked as a Features Writer for Cosmopolitan UK, and has bylines at The Telegraph, The Independent and British Vogue among countless others.