Free ‘morning after pill’ for women at high street pharmacies thanks to NHS expansion

Women can access the morning-after pill free of charge on the NHS in high-street pharmacies in mid and south Essex and across England.

The oral emergency contraception pill will be available for free to women from pharmacies across mid and south Essex without needing to see their GP or get an appointment at a sexual health clinic.

Women can find a pharmacy offering emergency contraception using the ‘Find a Pharmacy – Contraception’ search tool:

Earlier this year, pharmacies also began offering oral contraceptive pill consultations and repeat supplies, allowing women to start or continue the supply of their regular contraception from their local pharmacy.

Pharmacies play a central role in communities that are trusted by local people and easy to access. Providing emergency contraception through community pharmacies widens access and removes barriers for patients.

The initiative is part of a wider package of support for community pharmacies and expanding access to NHS services, helping people to get the care they need in convenient, familiar settings.

This is one of the biggest changes to sexual health services since the 1960s and a game-changer in making reproductive healthcare more easily accessible for women.

Instead of trying to search for women’s services or explain their needs, women can just pop into their local pharmacy and get the oral emergency contraceptive pill free of charge without needing to make an appointment.

Community pharmacists and their teams are trusted professionals who women will be able to speak to confidentially and address any concerns they may have.

With 4 in 5 people living within a 20-minute walk from a pharmacy this service is another example of how the NHS is already delivering on our 10 Year Health Plan commitment to shift care into the heart of communities.

Dr Sue Mann, NHS National Clinical Director in Women’s Health

Community pharmacies are staffed by pharmacists who are skilled and qualified health professionals who are ready to provide advice and support, helping patients access emergency contraception as part of routine community healthcare services.

They are at the heart of local healthcare and are playing a bigger role as the NHS shifts care into the community.

As well as over-the-counter support and treatment for minor health concerns, community pharmacy services can also supply prescription-only medicines, such as antibiotics and antivirals where clinically appropriate, to treat common conditions – including sinusitis, sore throat, earache, infected insect bites, impetigo, shingles, urinary tract infections (UTIs) – without the need to see a GP first.

Your local pharmacy can now also provide a free blood pressure check service for anyone over 40, and they are supporting patients who wish to stop smoking through the Smoking Cessation Service.

Community pharmacies are also playing an increasing role in NHS vaccination programmes, providing flu and Covid vaccinations to those eligible.

Find out more about how your local pharmacy can support you on our pharmacy page: