Free NHS-funded initiation and repeat supply of oral contraception (combined and progestogen-only pills) directly from your community pharmacy.
The NHS Pharmacy Contraception Service is a national NHS-commissioned initiative designed to provide women with rapid, convenient, and confidential access to oral hormonal contraception directly from their community pharmacy without needing a doctor's appointment or prescription fee. Under this service, an accredited pharmacist can both initiate new patients on oral contraception and provide ongoing repeat supplies of either the combined oral contraceptive pill (containing estrogen and progestogen) or the progestogen-only pill (POP or 'mini-pill'). During the private consultation, the pharmacist conducts a medical eligibility check based on the UK Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use (UKMEC), measures your blood pressure and BMI (for combined pill users), discusses pill choices, and reviews drug interactions, missed pill rules, and non-contraceptive benefits.
Your consultation is carried out in a soundproof, private consultation suite by a qualified healthcare professional.
Your consultation begins in a soundproof, private clinic room inside the pharmacy. Your pharmacist reviews your symptom history, existing medications, and individual requirements.
Your clinician carries out diagnostic checks or vital signs triage tailored to NHS Contraception Service in line with UK clinical standards and NICE protocols.
If clinically appropriate under the NHS specification, treatments or prescription medicines are dispensed directly at the pharmacy counter.
You will receive comprehensive instructions on recovery, expected timelines, and when to seek medical advice. An electronic clinical notification is shared with your registered NHS GP practice.
If symptoms persist, fail to improve within the expected timeframe, or if regular monitoring is required, book a follow-up consultation with your pharmacy team or contact your GP.
This consultation is delivered under an NHS commissioning framework. It is free for qualifying patients meeting national clinical eligibility criteria. It is not an unrestricted free service for all conditions or non-qualifying demographics.
No consultation fee is charged for qualifying NHS patients. Standard NHS prescription exemption rules apply if medications are dispensed.
85-87 HIGH STREET, RUSHDEN • NN10 0NZ
10 derwent parade, South ockendon • RM155EE
2 TADWORTH PARADE, ELM PARK, HORNCHURCH • RM12 5AS
418 WHITMORE WAY, BASILDON • SS14 2HB
NEW VALLEY ROAD, EXWICK EX4 2AD, EXETER • EX4 2AD
625-627 ROMAN ROAD, LONDON • E3 2RN
197-199 ROMAN ROAD, LONDON, BETHNAL GREEN, E2 0QY, LONDON • E2 0QY
376 BARKING ROAD, PLAISTOW, LONDON • E13 8HL
Follow these simple steps before attending the clinic:
Clinical advice for ongoing recovery and support:
Clinical guidance on consultations, eligibility, and prescription dispensing.
NextDoorClinic content is developed in collaboration with registered UK pharmacy prescribers and based on evidence-based UK clinical commissioning standards and clinical practice guidance:
