“This service is already making a real impact"
According to new figures, more than 300,000 women have used a new, free morning-after pill service at high street pharmacies in England.
The scheme was launched in October 2025 to improve access to emergency contraception and prevent women from having to arrange appointments with GPs or sexual health clinics.
NHS data shows that almost 305,000 doses were provided by pharmacies between October 2025 and March 2026.
The figures come after concerns that access to the morning-after pill varied depending on where women lived, with the government describing previous barriers as an “unfair” postcode lottery.
Under the service, women can visit their local participating pharmacy for a confidential consultation with a pharmacist or trained pharmacy technician.
Following the consultation, eligible women can receive emergency contraception on the same day.
The morning-after pill, also known as emergency contraception, is designed to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex. It usually needs to be taken within three to five days, depending on the type of medication.
The sooner it is taken, the more effective it is likely to be.
The medication works by delaying or preventing the release of an egg. However, it will only prevent pregnancy if ovulation has not already happened.
Women can also access a coil, or intrauterine device (IUD), as another form of emergency contraception.
The device can be fitted by a doctor or nurse at any point during the menstrual cycle, but it must be inserted within 120 hours or five days of unprotected sex to be effective.
Before the pharmacy service was introduced, women generally needed to book an appointment with a GP, sexual health clinic or pharmacy to access the morning-after pill.
The medication remains available privately for women who choose to purchase it.
The number of women seeking advice about the regular oral contraceptive pill through pharmacies has also increased, with figures showing requests more than doubled in the 12 months to February 2026.
Around 50,000 women asked pharmacists about starting the contraceptive pill previously, rising to more than 115,000.
In comparison, there were around 150,000 NHS prescriptions for the morning-after pill during 2024/25, significantly fewer than the number of doses provided through the new pharmacy service.
Dr Sue Mann, NHS National Clinical Director for Women’s Health, said the pharmacy service was a “major step forward for women’s health”.
She added: “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.
“Crucially, this isn’t just about emergency contraception – community pharmacies can also help women start or continue the contraceptive pill, meaning they can leave with a longer-term plan, not just a one-off solution.”
The NHS said all pharmacists and pharmacy technicians delivering the service have received specialist training to provide emergency contraception and wider contraceptive care.
Women can check online to find their nearest participating pharmacy offering the service.
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