Services Database Provision of Sexual Health Services in Community Pharmacies (Staffordshire Area)

Service ID

44592

Description

Please note this service is commissioned across Staffordshire. Therefore, the following LPCs have the same sexual health service in their areas:

  • North Staffordshire & Stoke-on-Trent LPC
  • South Staffordshire LPC

The service has only been added onto the Services Database under this entry to avoid duplication. This service is not available in Stoke-on-Trent. 

The aims of the service are:

  • to contribute to a reduction in the number of unplanned pregnancies by improving access to emergency hormonal contraception (EHC) and sexual health advice to women of all ages through one to one advice and treatment in community pharmacies - levonorgestrel or ulipristal can be supplied under Patient Group Direction (PGD);
  • to increase early detection (screening can be offered to all under 25s) and treatment of chlamydia (available to those aged 16–24 year olds) and therefore reduce transmission and complications associated with it as part of the National Chlamydia Screening Programme (NCSP) - azithromycin can be supplied under PGD as treatment for chlamydia;
  • where appropriate, to refer Service Users into mainstream contraceptive services and to ensure that pathways for post-coital IUD fitting for emergency contraception are known to Service Users who request EHC;
  • to encourage responsible use of condoms to young people via the C Card scheme (available to those aged 13-25 years);
  • to increase the knowledge of risks associated with sexually transmitted infections (STIs);
  • to refer Service Users who may have been at risk of STIs to an appropriate service; and
  • to strengthen the local network of contraceptive and sexual health services to help ensure easy and swift access to advice.

Please note, this service has been decommissioned. A separate service, Provision of Oral Emergency Hormonal Contraception, has subsequently been commissioned.

Location of service

North Staffordshire & Stoke-on-Trent LPC

Commissioner

Local Authority (LA)

Method of commissioning

Local Authority contract

Source of funding

Local Authority (LA)

Service type

Sexual health

Other organisations involved

Dates

Start date:
End date:

Status

Ongoing

Training

For provision of any of the sexual health services, the accredited pharmacists delivering the service will:

  • have completed the CPPE distance learning pack on Safeguarding; and
  • be expected to attend safeguarding training and other relevant training events organised by the Authority or the Local Pharmaceutical Committee.

Additionally, for provision of the EHC service, the accredited pharmacists delivering the service will have:

  • passed the CPPE e-assessment “Emergency Hormonal Contraception” or “Emergency Contraception”, and provided The Authority with a copy of their certificate. The CPPE e-learning Emergency Contraception can be used to support pharmacists preparing for this e-assessment;
  • read the PGDs for levonorgestrel and ulipristal acetate;
  • additionally - to provide Ulipristal acetate 30mg , pharmacists must have completed the EHC e-assessment which covered supply of ulipristal acetate (as introduced in 2013); and
  • pharmacists may wish to complete the CPPE e-learning “Dealing with Difficult Discussions” to aid them in delivering sexual health services.

Additionally, for provision of the chlamydia treatment service, the accredited pharmacists delivering the service will have:

  • completed the downloadable CPPE open learning “Sexual Health in Pharmacies”; and
  • read the PGD for azithromycin.

Comments

This service is available in the Staffordshire area only.