Services Database Emergency Hormonal Contraceptive Service

The pharmacist will be accredited to supply the progestogen-only emergency contraception (POEC) levonorgestrel, when indicated to clients in line with the requirements of a locally agreed Patient Group Direction (PGD). The supply will be made free of charge to female clients aged 12 and over at Somerset County Council (SCC) expense and aims to:

• improve patient access to the provision of emergency hormonal contraception (EHC), particularly to women under 25 years, through community pharmacy;
• provide professional sexual health care advice; sympathetic understanding to the client; signposting to appropriate services, with a non-judgmental attitude; addressing patient choice and a non-clinical setting;
• reduce the number of unplanned pregnancies in Somerset particularly in under 18s;
• raise the awareness of sexually transmitted infections, reduce prevalence of chlamydia, and signpost clients to appropriate services;
• refer clients, especially those from hard to reach groups, into mainstream contraceptive services; and
• strengthen the local network of contraceptive and sexual health services to help ensure easy and swift access to advice.

As part of the EHC consultation  pharmacists will discuss and advise patients aged 15 to 24 years (up to 25 years) about chlamydia infection, screening, and treatment. Following the discussion the patient and their sexual partners should be offered a chlamydia testing kit and the relevant number of kits should be supplied if the offer is accepted. The length and detail of any discussion with the patient will vary according to the patients existing knowledge and experience of chlamydia and the chlamydia screening programme.

Provision of EHC to all patient groups identified under the PGD will be through accredited pharmacists who have:

•  successfully completed Centre for Postgraduate Pharmacy Education (CPPE) training on Emergency Hormonal Contraception, and
• attended SCC/CCG level 2 Safeguarding Children training and approved EHC specific training (covering communicating with young people, sexual health advice provision, and EHC-specific safeguarding children issues), and
• SCC/CCG approved level 2 Safeguarding Children training was attended greater than two years previously refresher training in Safeguarding Children to level 2 standard has been completed, and
• completed the relevant authorisation process to be accredited by SCC for provision of EHC under the current PGD.