A report from NHS South East London has recommended that trained community pharmacists provide oral contraceptive consultation services after a successful pilot scheme to widen access to contraception.

The part of the report that has received the most media coverage is a recommendation to “consider providing the service to women under 16 years where appropriate.” The report said that this may help reduce numbers of teenage pregnancies.

The pilot scheme took place in five pharmacies in Southwark and Lambeth, in south London. These boroughs have some of the highest rates of teenage conception in Europe and the highest in London. The proportion of teenagers’ pregnancies ending in abortion in Southwark and Lambeth is higher, at 66% and 60% respectively, than the UK average …