This free service may be more convenient than booking an appointment with your GP surgery or at a sexual health clinic (may also be called a family planning or contraception clinic). You can choose a time that suits you, and the service is free and confidential. Our pharmacists can give the same expert advice about selecting and managing your contraceptive pills as your GP surgery. You can talk to them one-to-one in a private consultation room.

Yes, the pharmacist can talk through your options and where suitable, is able to start or issue you a different contraceptive pill. Where necessary, our pharmacists can refer you to your GP surgery or sexual health clinic for other options.

This pharmacy service may be more convenient and accessible than booking an appointment with your GP surgery or at a sexual health clinic for your annual pill check or to get a new prescription. You can choose a time that suits you, and the service is free and confidential.

You can use the service if:

• –  You are considering your choice of contraception and would like advice on your options.
• –  You would like to start taking or restart contraceptive pills.
• –  You are already taking a contraceptive pill that has been prescribed for you by your pharmacy, GP surgery or a sexual health clinic and you need your next supply of contraception.

You can be referred by your GP surgery or sexual health clinic or simply walk in and speak to the pharmacy team about the service. We would prefer you to book an appointment to manage expectations. However, the pharmacist will always be able to advise and support you.

A trained pharmacist will carry out your consultation. They will ask you the same sort of questions as the healthcare professional at your general practice would ask.

An appropriately trained member of the pharmacy team might also carry out some checks – such as taking your blood pressure, weight, height and asking about your medical history.

The pharmacist will discuss any concerns you have. For example, you can tell them if you have side effects from your contraception. If you have  side effects, the pharmacist will be able to help identify ways of managing these and, if needed, refer you to your GP surgery or sexual health clinic for further support.

The consultation is confidential, so the pharmacist will not talk to your GP or share your information without your consent. If you agree, the pharmacist will send a record of the consultation and the details of any contraception supplied to your GP surgery. If the pharmacist identifies any health problems, for example, raised blood pressure, they will talk to you about sharing this information with your GP.