Reflective exercise

A 23-year-old woman presents to your pharmacy requesting emergency contraception on a Saturday morning. She has used the service once before and appears slightly embarrassed.

While carrying out the Fraser competency and safeguarding checks, she discloses that she has had recurrent use of EHC in the past six months due to difficulty accessing GP appointments for regular contraception.

Your pharmacy is a provider of the NHS Pharmacy Contraception Service (PCS) and you are able to initiate ongoing oral contraception.

The 2025 updated PGD for supply of a combined oral hormonal contraceptive in the PCS draws attention to:

“Depressed mood and depression are well-known reported undesirable effects of hormonal contraceptive use. Depression can be serious and is a well-known risk factor for suicidal behaviour and suicide.

Women should be advised to speak to the pharmacist or pharmacy technician where medication was initiated by the pharmacy, or their general practice in case of mood changes and depressive symptoms, appearing shortly after initiation of the treatment”

and

“Individuals receiving GLP-1 agonists must use effective contraception. Note some GLP-1 agonists may reduce the effectiveness of oral contraception and additional barrier methods are recommended”.

• How are you incorporating these into your pharmacy’s consultations?
• How do you demonstrate working in partnership with others to ensure patient-centred care?
• How do you demonstrate professional judgement to ensure patient-centred care?
• How do you advise the patient based on the new guidelines to ensure that you provide patient-centred care?