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Community pharmacies in England have delivered more than 300,000 emergency hormonal contraception (EHC) consultations from October 2025 to April 2026, alongside more than 600,000 appointments for new or ongoing oral contraception in the same time period.
According to the latest available data from the NHS Business Services Authority, published on 23 July 2026, a total of 1,007,415 NHS pharmacy contraception service consultations took place in the six-month period.
This included 375,040 EHC consultations, 84,347 appointments to initiate oral hormonal contraception, and 548,028 appointments to monitor and renew patients’ contraception.
The pharmacy contraception service began in April 2023, enabling pharmacies to issue repeat supplies of oral hormonal contraception on the NHS to patients who had already been prescribed the pill, for instance by a GP or sexual health clinic.
It was expanded in December 2023 to allow pharmacies to initiate the contraceptive pill under a patient group direction and then again in October 2025 to include NHS supply of EHC through pharmacies.
Sue Mann, national clinical director for women’s health at the NHS, said: “Making the emergency contraceptive pill free through NHS pharmacies was a major step forward for women’s health, giving women quicker and easier access to emergency contraception exactly when they need it — with no appointment, no waiting and no judgement.
“This service is already making a real impact, particularly for women living in more deprived communities, by making contraception easier to access closer to home.”
Veronica Sanna, pharmacist at Pharmacy Plus Health in West Yorkshire, said: “The feedback from patients has been incredibly positive. Women really value being able to access confidential, professional advice quickly and easily, without needing to book an appointment. Every consultation is thorough, and with the patient’s consent we also keep their GP informed, helping to ensure continuity of care.
“We’re based in an area with a large student population, so timely, judgement-free sexual health support is especially important. But it’s about much more than the morning-after pill. Every consultation is an opportunity to discuss longer-term contraception too. Once we’ve met the immediate need, we can talk through ongoing options and, where appropriate, women can leave with a supply of the contraceptive pill without ever needing a GP appointment.
“Community pharmacies also give women greater choice. We’re accessible, open for extended hours and offer private consultation rooms, making it easier for women to seek advice in confidence and get the care they need, when they need it.”
Alastair Buxton, director of NHS services at Community Pharmacy England, said: “These figures are yet another reminder that when the NHS invests in community pharmacy, patients benefit.
“We believe the government should build on this success by developing the pharmacy contraception service into a more comprehensive women’s health service, such as through offering long-acting reversible contraception (e.g. injectable contraceptives) and menopause advice, with prescribing of HRT [hormone replacement therapy].”
Health and social care minister Baroness Gillian Merron said the number of patients accessing emergency contraception through pharmacies was “exactly why we made this change”.
“Women deserve fast, confidential access to the care they need, without unnecessary hurdles or costs standing in their way,” she said.
Malcolm Harrison, chief executive of the Company Chemists’ Association, said: “This is a significant step forward for women’s health. Hundreds of thousands of women have been able to access emergency contraception quickly, conveniently and free of charge from their local pharmacy, without the need for an appointment.
“The success of this service shows exactly why community pharmacy is such a valuable part of the NHS.
“This service is giving women faster access, greater choice and the ability to get vital support from their local pharmacy when they need it most.”
Henry Gregg, chief executive of the National Pharmacy Association, said: “Pharmacies are proud to be delivering this vital programme which has helped hundreds of thousands of women access the support they need with their contraception free of charge and on their doorsteps.
“Pharmacies have the potential to be delivering many more NHS services for their patients than they currently do.
“With the right levels of funding support and ambition, pharmacies can help deliver the government’s ambitions to provide more care closer to people’s homes, removing pressures from the rest of the health system.”
In 2024/2025, emergency oral contraception was accessed 848,000 times from sexual health clinics. In 2024, it was prescribed 56,000 times in community settings, including by GPs and pharmacies.
Pharmacies in Scotland and Wales can also provide EHC on the NHS. EHC is also available to purchase over the counter from pharmacies. On 1 July 2026. the College of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare called for the drug to be reclassified as a general sales list item, which would allow it to be sold directly from shops and retailers.
