NHS Pharmacy Contraception Service
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What is the NHS Pharmacy Contraception Service?
Our Boots pharmacists can help you with regular supplies of your oral contraception, as well as help with starting contraception for the first time, or after you have had a break from contraception. The NHS Pharmacy Contraception Service is free of charge and is available in selected stores in England only.
How does the service work?
Our pharmacy team will ask you some initial questions and afterwards, you’ll have a consultation with the pharmacist in a private consultation room. They will ask you relevant health-related questions to work out the best way to help you, and you may have your blood pressure checked and your BMI measured by a member of the team. Our pharmacists will offer advice and, where appropriate, make a supply of oral contraception.
If there isn’t a pharmacist available, the team may book you an appointment to return at a convenient time for you.
How do I access the service?
The NHS Pharmacy Contraception Service is a free of charge service available in selected stores and accessible through online booking. You may also be referred to the pharmacy by NHS providers such as your GP practice or sexual health clinic. The service is suitable for patients from when they have started their periods and up to age 49 for the combined oral contraception, and age 54 for the progesterone-only pill.
Starting contraception
An appointment for those starting contraception for the first time or after a break. This appointment is appropriate if you or the person you are booking the appointment for:
- Is aged 54 years or under*
- Has started their periods
- Is seeking a supply of oral contraception for contraceptive purposes:
- Starting the oral contraceptive pill for the first time or;
- Changing to a different type of oral contraceptive pill or;
- Switching from another form of contraception to the pill or;
- Returning to the pill after a break
Continuing contraception
An appointment for those seeking to continue their current supply of the oral contraceptive pill. This appointment is appropriate if you or the person you're booking the appointment for is:
- Aged 54 or under*
- Has started their periods
- Seeking a supply of oral contraception for contraceptive purposes
- Looking to continue their supply of the oral contraceptive pill
Emergency contraception | Meet our pharmacists
We are joined by Ella, a pharmacist at a Boots store in Weybridge. She will be discussing emergency contraception, its effectiveness, the different types available, and how to take it correctly. You can also learn more about common misconceptions and information about STIs.
Contraception 101
Frequently asked questions
With over 1400 Boots stores across England, it’s easy to get help when you need it from a Boots pharmacist. Get expert advice and, if appropriate, treatment without an appointment. Most of our pharmacies offer a private consultation room for discreet discussions about your health concerns.
The best way to understand what we can do to help is by speaking to one of our colleagues in the pharmacy team.
No, the consultation and oral contraception, if provided, are free of charge.
The service is suitable for patients from when they have started their periods and up to age 49 for the combined oral contraception, and age 54 for the progesterone-only pill.
You can access most forms of contraception from your GP or a sexual health clinic free of charge. Alternatively, you can purchase certain progesterone-only pills from Boots pharmacies without a prescription, subject to a conversation and suitability assessment by a pharmacist or pharmacy team member or you can access a range of oral contraception from Boots Online Doctor Contraceptive Pill Service2. Charges apply.
*The progesterone only contraceptive pill may be supplied, if appropriate, under this service up to and including age 54. The combined oral contraceptive pill may be supplied, if appropriate, under this service up to and including age 49.
1Subject to availability. Eligibility criteria may apply. Charges may apply.
2Access to prescription-only treatment is subject to an online consultation with a clinician to assess suitability. Subject to availability. Charges apply.
11Free health MOT available in participating stores, England only. The NHS Blood Pressure Check Service is for adults aged 40+ that do not have a diagnosis of hypertension, adults under 40 that have a recognised family history of hypertension (at the Pharmacist’s discretion) and adults referred by the GP for the measurement of blood pressure. Waist circumference & BMI checks optional. Subject to availability.
12Please note, free home postal delivery is only available to patients registered with a GP in England. However, the option to collect in-store is available for all customers registered with a participating GP anywhere in the UK. For patients registered with a participating GP surgery only. NHS Prescriptions charges may apply.
21Available in selected England stores only. Subject to availability, eligibility criteria apply.
22Eligibility criteria apply. Available in selected pharmacies, subject to availability.
27The NHS Blood Pressure Check Service is for adults aged 40 years and over who do not currently have a diagnosis of hypertension, for adults under 40 years of age who have a recognised family history of hypertension may be tested at the discretion of the pharmacist, and adults who have been referred by their GP.
32Supply of treatment is subject to a suitability assessment. In most stores in England only. Subject to availability and store opening hours. Charges may apply.
