Millions of women will be able to get free contraceptive pills in stores without having to visit a GP under new NHS plans.
From next month, women in England will be able to get an initial prescription for the pills from their local pharmacy. The move will give women more choice about where to get the pills and save on doctor visits, officials said.
If women choose combined estrogen and progestogen pills, the pharmacist will check their blood pressure and weight. According to NHS England, no testing is required for the mini-pill (progestogen only), nor in other situations.
Pharmacies will need to register for the new service, meaning it will not be immediately available everywhere in England. As more pharmacies join the scheme, the NHS website will be updated to allow women to check which sites offer the service.
Women who are overweight or have high blood pressure, and therefore are at higher risk of developing blood clots while taking the combination pill, may be referred to their GP for further testing. Money has also been allocated to allow more pharmacies to issue repeat prescriptions for all types of pills. Continuous blood pressure and weight checks, required for women when taking the pill, will also be available in pharmacies.
NHS England expects that almost half a million women will be able to take the pill without seeing their GP next year, and this number is expected to rise. Prescription data for the 2022-2023 period shows there were almost three million combination pill prescriptions and more than four million mini-pill prescriptions.
Amanda Pritchard, chief executive of NHS England, said: “This is really good news for women – we are all leading increasingly busy lives and this measure will allow them to simply go to their local pharmacy if they need it, rather than having to book an appointment. doctor’s appointment.” their therapist.” .eat or want. Get access to contraception.
“We will also be expanding services to make more health checks available to patients on the high street, which is not only better and more convenient for patients, but also frees up the NHS to provide more GP visits for those who need them most needs.”
As part of wider plans, pharmacists will offer more blood pressure checks to at-risk patients, committing to providing 2.5 million checks a year by spring 2025. NHS England estimates it could prevent more than 1,350 heart attacks and strokes in the first year.
Victoria Atkins, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, said: “I am pleased to begin my time as Secretary of State with such a positive example of the Government, the NHS and the pharmaceutical sector working together to reach an agreement to improve the situation. Services and saving lives.
“For the public, these changes mean more choice for women when choosing their preferred method of contraception, a reduced risk of heart attack or stroke, and improved access to medications for common diseases.” and the skills and experience of local pharmacies will be better utilized.”
Janet Morrison, chief executive of Community Pharmacy England, said: “It makes sense to use community pharmacies as a first port of call for medical advice, access to contraception and health checks such as blood pressure checks.”
“Community pharmacies employ highly trained healthcare professionals, and empowering them to do more is the logical next step in the development of primary care. These new services will help patients and the public, and will reduce the burden on GPs and the wider health system.”
Source: I News
I’m Raymond Molina, a professional writer and journalist with over 5 years of experience in the media industry. I currently work for 24 News Reporters, where I write for the health section of their news website. In my role, I am responsible for researching and writing stories on current health trends and issues. My articles are often seen as thought-provoking pieces that provide valuable insight into the state of society’s wellbeing.