Gloucestershire’s local community pharmacies have supplied nearly 4,000 morning-after pills to women over a nine-month period since the NHS made it available free-of-charge in October 2025.
Around 500 emergency contraception consultations took place each month between October 2025 and June 2026, without women needing to book a GP or sexual health clinic appointment.
Pharmacy teams also support women with their ongoing contraception.
Ravneet Chahal, a Community Pharmacist in Gloucester, said:
“Women can now visit their local pharmacy and have a confidential consultation with a pharmacist or trained pharmacy technician before receiving the emergency contraceptive pill on the same day.
Pharmacists can also help if you are considering your regular contraception options or if you are starting contraception for the first time or have had a break from contraception.
We will offer advice and, where appropriate, supply your regular oral contraception without you needing to see your GP.
Pharmacies will offer women a consultation in a private consultation room where they will ask relevant health-related questions to work out the best way to help. Women may have your blood pressure checked and their BMI measured by a member of the team.
If there isn’t a pharmacist available at the time, the team may book you an appointment to return at a convenient time for you.
Dr Hein Le Roux, Deputy Chief Medical Officer at NHS Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board, said:
“Making the emergency contraceptive pill free through community pharmacies is a welcome step forward for women’s health.
It gives women quick and easy access to emergency contraception exactly when they need it without needing to wait for an appointment.
Community pharmacies can also help women start or continue the contraceptive pill, meaning they can leave with a longer-term plan, not just a one-off solution.”
Community pharmacies are accessible, open for extended hours and offer private consultation rooms, making it easier for women to seek advice in confidence and get the care they need, when they need it.
Women can find their nearest participating pharmacy using the NHS website’s pharmacy finder or emergency contraception search.
All pharmacists and pharmacy technicians delivering the service have received specialist training to provide emergency contraception and wider contraceptive care.