- Over 300,000 doses of the morning-after pill have been dispensed at high-street pharmacies across England within the first five months of a new NHS scheme.
- The initiative allows women to obtain emergency contraception without needing a GP appointment or a visit to a sexual health clinic.
- This new scheme significantly streamlines access, with almost 305,000 emergency contraceptive pills supplied between October 2025 and this March, compared to fewer than 150,000 prescriptions from all sources in the year 2024/2025, according to NHS data.
- Women can receive a confidential consultation and prescription from a pharmacist or trained technician on the same day, with pharmacy teams also offering guidance on longer-term contraception options.
- Health and social care minister Baroness Gillian Merron said: “Women deserve fast, confidential access to the care they need, without unnecessary hurdles or costs standing in their way.”
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