The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 280 No 7493 p295
15 March 2008

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Oral contraception PGD starts in Manchester

Pharmacy sexual health services in Manchester have been relaunched with the addition of a patient group direction (PGD) for supplying oral contraception.

Karen O’Brien, associate director for primary care commissioning at Manchester Primary Care Trust, told The Journal that 10 pharmacies had started offering the PGD this week, linked in with the sexual health services already in place. She explained that women who ask for emergency hormonal contraception at one of the pharmacies are to be offered the PCT’s chlamydia service (which includes testing, treating and tracing) as well as oral contraception under the PGD, if appropriate.

The pharmacists involved have been trained and accredited to take on the new enhanced service, and will provide initial and repeat courses of either a combined oral contraceptive or a progesterone-only pill.