Services Database Sexual Health Level 1 – Plan B & Chlamydia Screening (Northumberland Area)

The purpose of this service is to ensure that sexually active persons aged 15 – 24 years are offered opportunistic chlamydia and gonorrhea screening as part of the national programme and to continue to ensure that women aged 13 years and over have equitable access to emergency hormonal contraception in a convenient location.

The service will enable the pharmacist to supply emergency hormonal contraception (EHC) free of charge to patients aged 13 and over, presenting at the pharmacy, requiring emergency contraception, in line with the associated Patient Group Direction (PGD). In addition, the pharmacist will signpost and where appropriate, refer the patient to specialist sexual health services for on-going contraceptive advice.

For those women aged 15 - 24 years, the pharmacist will also discuss, encourage and supply a postal pack for chlamydia and gonorrhoea screening. The pharmacist or appropriately trained members of pharmacy support staff will also promote and encourage chlamydia and gonorrhoea screening in patients or customer aged 15 to 24 who present in the pharmacy.

The following training must be completed by pharmacists who wish to offer the service:

• attendance at accreditation training sessions;
• commitment to ensure continuous professional development pertaining to EHC, e.g. attendance at a local event annually; and
• completion of the Centre for Pharmacy Postgraduate Education (CPPE) pack on “Emergency Contraception” available from www.cppe.ac.uk.