Copyright independent
Women in England can now access the morning-after pill free of charge from almost 10,000 community pharmacies. This new service, effective from Wednesday, removes the previous cost of up to £30 and the requirement for a GP or clinic appointment. NHS England officials have described the move as the biggest change to sexual health services since the 1960s, significantly improving accessibility for women. Dr Sue Mann, national clinical director in women’s health at NHS England, highlighted that women can now confidentially obtain emergency contraception at their local pharmacy. The initiative is part of a wider government investment in community pharmacies, which also includes free consultations for the contraceptive pill and advice for new antidepressant prescriptions.
