In this Article:
01: General Statistics02: Issues03: Solutions04: What is the NHS Pharmacy Contraception Service?General Statistics
1. In our survey of over 1,000 women – the average length of time they’d been on the contraceptive pill was 7 years
2. Oral contraception is a popular choice for women using regular birth control for the first time with just under half of those surveyed having not used contraception before the pill.
Issues
3. Of those on contraception, 8% ran out of their pill on a regular basis, while 29% occasionally ran out.
4. For those who had run out at least once, the biggest reason was forgetting to book an appointment to renew their prescription. Over 1 in 5 struggled to get an appointment with their GP to renew.
5. Condoms were the go-to choice of contraception in the event of running out with just under 40% opting for this method.
6. Medicines adherence – only 15% of respondents said they would check the patient information leaflet for advice if they missed a pill
7. Over half of women found it frustrating to need to visit the GP to renew their oral contraception, while nearly 1/3 said having to collect their contraception from the local pharmacy was inconvenient.
Solutions
8. 68% of respondents said they’d prefer the option of using a remote service to renew their oral contraception.
9. Over half of women surveyed didn’t know it was possible to renew their contraception through a digital pharmacy service.
10. 73% said they would feel empowered to have more control of their contraception reviews rather than relying on the availability of their GP surgery.
What is the NHS Pharmacy Contraception Service?
Rolled out early 2024, the NHS Contraception Service is a free initiative that gives women more flexibility and convenience when it comes to accessing oral contraception. Pharmacists can now carry out reviews and renew or initiate oral contraception, so no need for a GP appointment or a visit to the sexual health clinic. Our pharmacists carry out remote appointments over the phone. During these appointments, patients can discuss their options, ask questions, and decide on an oral contraceptive that’s right for them. They’ll then receive their contraception through the post with free tracked , and can discuss how often they should review their contraception with the pharmacist. A handy reminder service minimises the risk of forgetting to renew and running out too.
Want to try it for yourself? Learn more about this free service over on our NHS Contraception Service page or make an appointment to speak to a pharmacist about your contraception today.