Nine community pharmacists in the Westway primary care group area of Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster health authority are to start supplying emergency hormonal contraception (Levonelle-2) under a patient group direction. A similar scheme is already being operated by Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham health authority.
The health authority was to launch the scheme on August 24, after The Journal went to press.
The participating pharmacists completed a three-day training course within the past two weeks which included a final assessment of competence. All of the pharmacists took part in a pharmacy window display campaign in November, 1999, which was intended to raise awareness of emergency contraception.
The scheme is part of the health authority's strategy to reduce unplanned pregnancies. The Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster area has the highest rate of termination of pregnancy in the country, with over 40 per cent of all conceptions ending in termination. Although the teenage pregnancy rate is one of the lowest in the country, the health authority has a particularly high rate of unwanted pregnancies in the 25- to 34-year-old age group. Previous studies carried out by the health authority have shown that women use community pharmacies as a first port of call when attempting to access emergency contraception.
A key part of the service is to point women who seek emergency contraception towards family planning services - either a clinic or a general medical practitioner surgery - for ongoing family planning advice.
All pharmacies in the area are being asked to display posters in their windows or in their premises so that people know that the service is available. All pharmacies will have a list of the participating pharmacies and the times that the named pharmacist is normally on duty. It is hoped that, if the pilot is successful, the service will be rolled out to the rest of the health authority.
Participating pharmacists are to be paid £15 per consultation, plus the cost of the product if a supply is made. An initial £150 fee is also to be paid to each pharmacy involved in recognition of the time and resources required to ensure effective systems are set up.