Services Database Community Pharmacy Sexual Health Service
Service ID
18819
Description
The service comprises of four parts:
Sexual health advice and signposting
The pharmacy will provide support and advice to the patient, including referral to primary care or specialist centres where appropriate. Leaflets are supplied to reinforce health advice given during the consultation.
Emergency hormonal contraception (EHC)
Where appropriate, pharmacists can supply EHC (levonorgestrel or ulipristal acetate) free of charge via Patient Group Direction (PGD) to women aged 14-24 years who are a resident in Gloucestershire. They may also supply the anti-emetic, domperidone under PGD if indicated.
In addition, pharmacists can perform a pregnancy test for women who may be pregnant identified through the EHC consultation and the copper intra uterine device may also be discussed as an alternative or additional method of emergency contraception for increased efficiency. The pharmacist will signpost the patient accordingly when required.
Chlamydia screening and treatment
Pharmacists should offer and supply a free chlamydia test to all attending the service and partner(s) and staff should opportunistically offer this over the counter.
Pharmacists can supply chlamydia treatment (azithromycin) and advice to all 15–24 year old positive clients and their partners (who can be any age) in accordance with the appropriate PGD.
‘C-Card’ condom distribution
Pharmacists and other members of staff can supply free condoms as a result of sexual health consultation, or to those registered on the C-Card scheme.
Location of service
Gloucestershire LPC
Commissioner
Local Authority (LA)
Method of commissioning
Local Authority contract
Source of funding
Local Authority (LA)
Service type
Sexual health
Other organisations involved
Pregnancy Advisory Service (PAS), Teenage Pregnancy Midwives, Chlamydia Screening Office
Dates
Start date:
End date:
Status
Ongoing
Training
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.
