At Westcliffe Pharmacy, we offer convenient, confidential contraceptive reviews through the NHS Pharmacy Contraception Service. Our aim is to make it easier for you to access safe, effective contraception, with professional support from trained pharmacy clinicians — without needing a GP appointment.

What is a contraceptive review?

A contraceptive review is a confidential consultation with a pharmacist or trained pharmacy technician to discuss your current contraception, your medical history, and whether your chosen method continues to be safe and suitable for you.

During the review, we will:

• Check your current contraceptive method
• Check for any side effects or concerns
• Assess your medical history and lifestyle factors
• Agree the most appropriate option for you
• Arrange supply of contraception where clinically suitable

All consultations are carried out in a private setting.

What is the NHS Pharmacy Contraception Service?

Introduced in 2023, the NHS Pharmacy Contraception Service allows community pharmacies to provide contraception services directly to patients. This includes both ongoing supply and, where appropriate, starting oral contraception for the first time.

The service was developed to:

• Improve access to contraception
• Offer more choice in how and where people receive care
• Reduce pressure on GP practices and sexual health clinics
• Support people who may face barriers to accessing traditional services

Community pharmacies play an important role in providing local, accessible healthcare, particularly for underserved or higher-risk groups.

What the Service includes

At participating pharmacies, the service covers:

• Ongoing supply of oral contraception
• Starting oral contraception for the first time, following assessment
• Supply of oral emergency contraception

This means you may be able to receive contraception directly from your pharmacy rather than arranging a GP or sexual health clinic appointment.

Contraception options available:

Through this service, the following methods of oral contraception are available for pharmacies to prescribe, in England.

• Combined oral contraceptive (COC) pill
• Progestogen-only pill (POP)

You can access the service in several ways:

• You may refer yourself directly
• You may be signposted by your GP practice or a sexual health service
• A pharmacy team member may identify that the service could be suitable for you

If appropriate, you will be offered a confidential consultation. Together with the pharmacist or pharmacy technician, you will make a shared decision about the most suitable supply of contraception.

You do not need to be registered with a GP to use this service. With your consent, your GP will be informed that you have accessed the service.

Cost and eligibility

This is an NHS-funded service.

• All contraception and emergency contraception supplied through the service is free of charge
• No prescription charges apply

Supplies are provided under a Patient Group Direction (PGD), following a clinical assessment.

Trained and qualified professionals

All pharmacists and pharmacy technicians delivering this service have completed additional training and demonstrated competence in the skills and knowledge required to provide contraception services safely.