Free morning-after pill now available from local pharmacies
This change means you no longer need to make a GP appointment or visit a sexual health clinic to get emergency contraception. You can simply visit your local pharmacy and speak confidentially with a trained pharmacist.
Earlier this year, pharmacies also began offering contraceptive pill consultations, allowing people to start or continue their regular oral contraception directly from their local pharmacy, making access to contraception easier and more convenient.
Community pharmacies continue to play a key role in helping people manage their health. As well as offering advice and treatment for minor illnesses, pharmacists can now supply some prescription-only medicines such as antibiotics or antivirals where clinically appropriate. This includes treatments for conditions such as:
- Sinusitis
- Sore throat or earache
- Infected insect bites
- Impetigo
- Shingles
- Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
These services mean you can often get help and treatment without needing to see a GP first.
Pharmacies also offer other important health services, including:
- Free blood pressure checks for anyone aged 40 and over
- Support to stop smoking through the NHS Smoking Cessation Service
Original article published on: NHS England » Free ‘morning after pill’ for women at high street pharmacies thanks to NHS expansion
