Services Database Community Pharmacy Sexual Health Service

Service objectives 

The Service is designed to:

· provide comprehensive and timely access to Emergency Hormonal Contraception (EHC) and condoms in community pharmacy for those under the age of 25 years (the age group at higher risk of STIs and unplanned pregnancy).

· provide professional sexual health care and advice in a non-clinical setting, including signposting to specialist sexual health services, Pregnancy Advisory Service or general practice, where appropriate.

· raise awareness of the use of Intrauterine Devices (IUDs) as an alternative or additional form of emergency contraception and on-going contraception.

· strengthen the local network of contraceptive and sexual health services within primary care.

Pharmacists
The pharmacy contractor has a duty to ensure that pharmacists and staff involved in the provision of the service have relevant knowledge, are appropriately trained in the operation of the service, and are aware of and operate a confidentiality policy which takes into consideration the needs and rights of under 16s.

Provision of EHC under PGD may be provided by accredited pharmacists who have successfully completed the NHS England core training event and been passed as competent, as assessed by Contraception and Sexual Health Instructing doctor/s and/or nurse/s.

Provision of azithromycin under PGD may be provided by accredited pharmacists who have successfully completed the Chlamydia Screening Office’s training event.

Pharmacists participating in the scheme will be expected to have successfully completed the following Centre for Pharmacy Postgraduate Education (CPPE) course/study packs:

• Emergency hormonal contraception open learning pack;
• Sexual health: testing and treating open learning pack;
• Contraception open learning pack; and
• Child protection: a guide for the pharmacy team open learning pack (or trust level 1 child protection).

EHC trained pharmacists must be re-accredited every three years through NHS England open learning update module.

Public Health (via Gloucestershire Care Services NHS Trust) will provide EHC and chlamydia training events approximately every four months, to train locums and new staff pharmacists.

Other members of the pharmacy team
Provision of C-Card service may be provided by suitably trained pharmacy staff who have been received training from the C-Card Scheme co-ordinator.

Appropriate training must be given to pharmacy support staff involved in delivery of the scheme, and must include values/attitudes, confidentiality, language, signposting, and child protection.

Public Health (via Gloucestershire Care Services NHS Trust) will arrange at least one contractor meeting per year to promote service development and update the knowledge of pharmacy staff.