Emergency Hormonal Contraception
Published on: 19th July 2013 | Updated on: 3rd February 2025
Examples of this service that have been commissioned locally are available on the Community Pharmacy England online services database.
Tools and publications which may be useful to support the commissioning of this service can be found on the Service development tools and publications hub.
Click on a heading below for more information.
EN11 Emergency Hormonal Contraception template service specification (Microsoft Word)
EN11 Emergency Hormonal Contraception template service specification (PDF)
Above is a nationally negotiated template service specification (developed and agreed by Community Pharmacy England, the Department of Health and NHS Employers) and associated resources on the service. LPCs and contractors are able to negotiate to provide services in accordance with this specification where a local need for the service is determined. Alternatively LPCs, contractors or the service commissioner are free to develop their own local services in response to identified needs.
Community Pharmacy England Services Case Studies Hub
Community Pharmacy England Think Pharmacy prospectus: Emergency hormonal contraception (June 2019)
Community Pharmacy England Briefing 029/13: Sexual Health Services (March 2013)
This Community Pharmacy England Briefing summarises two documents published in early 2013: A Framework for Sexual Health Improvement in England; and Commissioning Sexual Health services and interventions.
The Community Pharmacy England resource Community Pharmacy – at the Heart of Public Health describes the main public health services that are provided by community pharmacies and the evidence base for these services.
NHS support for victims and survivors of sexual assault and abuse
Should an individual need assistance, NHS sexual assault referral centres (SARCs) provide a safe space and dedicated care for anyone who has been raped, sexually assaulted or abused.
SARCs are available across England, to all regardless of sex, gender identity, age, the type of incident and when it happened. Individuals can get help from a SARC without having to talk to the police or report what happened to them.
SARCs offer specialist practical, medical and emotional support 24/7, which includes crisis care, medical and forensic examinations, emergency contraception and testing for sexually transmitted infections. They can also arrange access to an independent sexual violence advisor, as well as referrals to mental health support and voluntary sector sexual violence support services.
Access to a SARC is by appointment; individuals can contact a SARC to make an appointment or ask a health care professional, family member, friend or other representative to do this for them. Individuals also have the option of accessing a SARC by police referral or escort.
Getting help from a SARC
Click here to find your nearest SARC.
Further information is available at www.nhs.uk/sarcs.
Identifying and Responding to Sexual Assault and Abuse programme
Pharmacists and pharmacy staff who want to undertake additional training to support with information giving and advice for identifying and responding to sexual assault and abuse can access a free e-learning programme available through the e-learning for Healthcare portal. The resources are aimed at health and care professionals who may be involved in the care of people who have experienced rape, sexual assault or abuse.
PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) – The value of community pharmacy: full report and summary report.
This report contains a chapter which provides PwC’s assessment of the value associated with community pharmacy’s current role in providing emergency hormonal contraception (EHC) services in England.
Presentation at the Pharmacy Show: Birmingham Umbrella sexual health services – Inderjit Singh & Sanjeev Panesar (Sept 2016) (If prompted, password is: pharmacy16)
The Professional Standards for Public Health Practice for Pharmacy (2014) provide a framework to help pharmacy teams, commissioners and those contracting services to design, implement, deliver and monitor high quality public health practice through pharmacy.
‘Think Pharmacy’ Posters – EHC for up to 72 hours after (version 1)
‘Think Pharmacy’ Posters – EHC for up to 72 hours after (version 2)
‘Think Pharmacy’ Posters – EHC for up to 120 hours after (version 1)
‘Think Pharmacy’ Posters – EHC for up to 120 hours after (version 2)
For more information on this topic please email comms.team@cpe.org.uk
