Pilot To Offer ‘The Pill’ From Chemists To Isle of Wight Girls As Young As 13 (updated)

The Isle of Wight has been picked as an area to pilot another scheme. This one will be viewed by many as controversial.

Girls as young as 13 will be able to get the contraceptive pill from pharmacies on the Island, without having to seeing a doctor or informing their parents.

We’ve had a look through emails from the Island’s Primary Care Trust (PCT), but can’t locate information about it, but it was reported by the BBC at the weekend.

Teenagers who ask for a morning-after pill at one of the chemists taking part in the scheme – there are ten of the Island’s thirty initially involved – they will also be able to get a month’s supply of the contraceptive pill, without the need of a prescription.

We’ve been in touch with the PCT to try and find out more details. More shortly we hope.

Update 3/11/10: We’ve not had an official response from the NHS yet, but have received the following from a reliable source who wishes to remain anonymous.

The process involves an in depth consultation only initiated after a consultation for the morning after pill. Under 16s can only access a single month’s supply of the contraceptive pill if they consent to a direct referral to the specialist sexual health nurse for the under 16s. Therefore child protection is an absolute priority!

BBC Report

Image: gnarlsmonkey under CC BY 2.0