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England Pharmacy Contraception

Service (PCS) Update

Embracing new opportunities in
Contraception Services

In a landmark move that began on December 1 , 2023, pharmacies
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across the nation witnessed a significant expansion in their
contraception services. The Pharmacy Contraception Service
(PCS) took a giant leap forward by introducing Tier 2 services,
allowing pharmacists not only to monitor and supply repeat oral
contraception prescriptions, but also to initiate oral contraception.

Enhanced Service structure

The PCS adopted a tiered service approach:

Tier 1: Pharmacies enlisted before December 1 , 2023, initially offered
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ongoing monitoring and supply of repeat oral contraception prescriptions.
These pharmacies seamlessly transitioned to providing both Tier 1 and Tier 2
services within three months.
Tier 2: Pharmacies joining the PCS after December 1 , 2023, were mandated
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to offer both Tier 1 and Tier 2 services, allowing them to initiate oral
contraception.

Post Tier 2, the additional actions required by contractors for readiness for
delivery of Tier 2 include:
All team colleagues involved in delivery of the service must:

Have read/understand/signed updated SOP.
Pharmacists delivering the service must:
Have evidence of appropriate clinical skills and knowledge for delivery of
the extended service - ‘Recommended Training Modules’ listed in updated
service specification for ‘Initiation’ , additional to those suggested within the
version 1.0, Tier 1 service specification are:

The following subsections of FSRH e-SRH on elfh:

Module 2 Module 3 Module 5
02_01 Health history and 03_07 Barrier 05_01 Managing bleeding problems
risk assessment contraceptives in women using contraceptives
02_02 Confidentiality, 05_02 Managing contraceptive
chaperones, and consent. side-effects
05_03 Managing side-effects and
complications of IUD and IUS
Have read/understand/signed the new PGDs.
MUST be familiar with at least one online shared decision-making contraception
consultation tool to use within the consultation, examples being:
Sexwise: https://www.sexwise.org.uk/contraception/which-method-contraception-
right-me
Brook: https://www.brook.org.uk/best-contraception-for-me/

Contraception Choices: https://www.contraceptionchoices.org/whats-right-for-me

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