Women’s Health – Contraception

Written by the Veritas Pharmacy clinical team. Address: 113 Chester Road, Sunderland. Registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council, registration number 9012617.

Starting the pill for the first time, or simply needing your next supply, does not have to mean waiting weeks for a general practitioner appointment. Through the National Health Service Pharmacy Contraception Service, our independent prescribing pharmacist can assess you, prescribe the pill, and arrange free home delivery, all from a single remote consultation by video or telephone. This service is free on the National Health Service, and appointments last around 15 minutes.

What does this service cover?

This consultation covers the contraceptive pill only, including both starting the pill for the first time and continuing an existing supply. It does not cover emergency contraception, or long-acting methods such as the coil, the implant, or the injection. If you are looking for emergency contraception, this is offered as a separate service: Emergency Contraception.

Two main types of pill are covered under this service. The combined pill, which contains two hormones, is available to anyone from the start of their periods up to and including the age of 49. The progestogen only pill, which contains a single hormone, is available up to and including the age of 54 for most types, or up to and including the age of 49 for the type containing drospirenone. Your pharmacist will confirm which option is most appropriate for you.

Starting the pill compared with continuing an existing supply

If you are starting the pill for the first time, or restarting after a break, this is treated as an initiation. Your pharmacist will talk through your medical history, discuss which type of pill may suit you, and, where appropriate, prescribe an initial supply. If you are already taking a particular pill and simply need your next supply, this is treated as an ongoing supply, and the consultation will be more focused on checking that the pill continues to suit you before your prescription is renewed.

Is this service right for you?

This service is available to anyone seeking the contraceptive pill, from the start of their periods up to the relevant upper age limit for the type of pill involved. It is not available to anyone under 16 years of age who is assessed as not able to consent to their own care under the Fraser Guidelines, or to anyone aged 16 or over who is assessed as lacking the capacity to consent.

During your consultation, your pharmacist will also discuss other, more effective forms of contraception with you, such as long-acting reversible methods, so that you have a full picture of your options, even though this particular service only prescribes the pill itself.

What to expect at your appointment

Your appointment takes place remotely, by video or telephone, whichever you prefer. Your pharmacist will ask about your medical history, any current medicines, and your reasons for wanting the pill, to check that it is suitable and safe for you.

If you are being assessed for the combined pill, your blood pressure and body mass index need to be taken into account, in line with national guidance. Because this consultation takes place remotely, these can be figures that you report yourself, if you have them available, such as a recent blood pressure reading or your height and weight. Your pharmacist will let you know exactly what is needed during your consultation.

Where the pill is judged clinically appropriate, your pharmacist prescribes and issues it directly, and arranges free home delivery to you. An initial supply is usually provided for up to 3 months, with ongoing supplies typically covering 6 to 12 months at a time, so that you do not need to book a fresh appointment every few weeks.

How to prepare for your appointment

It is helpful to have a list of any medicines you currently take, and, if relevant, a recent blood pressure reading, along with your height and weight, ready to hand for your consultation. If you already take a particular pill, having the name of it to hand will also help.

How to book your contraception consultation

Booking takes a couple of minutes online, or you can call the clinic directly to speak to someone first. This service is provided remotely, so you can access it from anywhere in England.

This service is free on the National Health Service, with no charge for the consultation, the prescription, or home delivery. The appointment lasts around 15 minutes. We are open seven days a week, from 9 o’clock in the morning until 5 o’clock in the evening, for appointments.

Frequently asked questions about the contraception consultation

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