Guidance on contraceptive services for those under 16 applies to some pharmacy services
Guidance on the provision of contraceptive services to people under 16 years of age has been issued
to health care professionals in England by the Department of Health.
The guidance recommends that health professionals, including pharmacists
who supply emergency hormonal contraception (EHC) under a patient group
direction (PGD), should give young people the time and support needed
to make informed choices. As part of this, they should discuss the emotional
and physical implications of sexual activity and the benefits of discussion
with a parent or carer.
The guidance also reminds health professionals that they are justified
in giving confidential advice and treatment to those under 16 years — provided
that the young person understands the advice and its implications and
that the advice or treatment is in their best interest.
A spokeswoman for the DoH confirmed that the guidance applies to pharmacists
providing EHC under a patient group direction.
David Pruce, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s director of practice
and quality improvement, welcomed the revised guidance and commended
it to pharmacists.
He explained that there are three possible routes by which women can
obtain emergency contraception: as a pharmacy medicine, as a prescription
only medicine (POM) via primary care, family planning, hospital genitourinary
medicine clinics, or some accident and emergency centres, and as a POM
through PGDs via NHS walk in centres, family planning clinics and some
community pharmacies.
“Pharmacists are reminded that EHC is licensed as a pharmacy medicine
for women aged 16 or over. Pharmacists should satisfy themselves that
the client is aged 16 or over early in the consultation. They should
ensure that where they believe a woman to be under 16 the request is
dealt with sympathetically and the woman is offered appropriate help
and support to enable her to obtain EHC by another route, ie, an authorised
supply of a POM product on prescription or supply through a PGD. Supply
to women under 16 may only be made if the PGD specifies this.
“The Society’s practice guidance on
supply of EHC as a pharmacy medicine (PDF 35K) is available on the Society’s
website and
is currently being updated — the new
Department of Health guidance will be taken into consideration.” |
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