New NHS figures show that almost 305,000 doses of the emergency contraceptive pill were supplied at pharmacies between October 2025 and March 2026. This service allows women to access the pill without needing a GP or sexual health clinic appointment.
Women can now visit their local pharmacy for a confidential consultation with a pharmacist or trained pharmacy technician, and receive the emergency contraceptive pill on the same day. Pharmacy teams can also offer support with ongoing contraception.
Dr Sue Mann, NHS National Clinical Director for Women’s Health, stated that making the emergency contraceptive pill free through NHS pharmacies was a significant step forward, providing quicker and easier access. Health and Social Care Minister, Baroness Gillian Merron, added that the number of women accessing the service in five months demonstrates the importance of the change.
Since February 2024, pharmacies have carried out over 1.2 million consultations for women continuing their oral contraceptive pill, alongside an additional 192,000 consultations for women starting it. Around 4 in 5 people in England live within a 20-minute walk of a community pharmacy.