Published: 23/09/21

This Circular advises that supply of bridging contraception will be added to the community pharmacy Public Health Service from 9 November 2021.

The Directions for the Public Health Service are amended by the Health Board Additional Pharmaceutical Services (Public Health Service) (Scotland) Amendment Directions 2021 (“the Amendment Directions”) to enable community pharmacies to provide a 3 month supply of desogestrel as bridging contraception. The Amendment Directions come into force on 9 November 2021.

Background

NHS Circular PCA (P)(2015) 20 issued on 14 September 2015, enclosed updated Directions for the Health Board Additional Pharmaceutical Services (Public Health Service) (Scotland) Directions 2015 which came into force on 1 October 2015, alongside an updated service specification for the supply of Emergency Hormonal Contraception (EHC).

Detail

The Directions for the Public Health Service are amended by the Health Board Additional Pharmaceutical Services (Public Health Service) (Scotland) Amendment Directions 2021 (“the Amendment Directions”) to enable community pharmacies to provide a 3 month supply of desogestrel as bridging contraception. The Amendment Directions come into force on 9 November 2021.

A supply may be made following on from an Emergency Hormonal Contraception (EHC) consultation, or where no EHC is required a supply can be made as a standalone temporary supply of contraception when an individual requests this. This is intended to support access to contraception. The service follows on from the successful Bridge-IT pilot undertaken in a number of community pharmacies.

The Amendment Directions are attached to this Circular as Annex A.

Community pharmacy contractors and pharmacy teams should ensure they are familiar with the new arrangements as detailed below.