Everyone should have access to a full range of contraceptives in ‘the location of their choosing’, an open letter signed by the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has urged.

Dr Janet Barter, secretary of the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Health (FSRH), wrote to secretary of state Wes Streeting this week highlighting the organisation’s Hatfield Vision Manifesto, named for the first CEO of the FSRH Jane Hatfield, who died in 2021 from ovarian cancer.

The manifesto asks the government to enact five actions Dr Barter said ‘would help to enable all people to access the sexual and reproductive healthcare services they so urgently need’:

  1. Introduce a dedicated Sexual and Reproductive Health Strategy and commit to continuing the Women’s Health Strategy
  2. Improve access to the full range of contraceptives for all people in the location of their choosing
  3. Ensure education and information about sexual and reproductive health is easily accessible and available to all throughout their life course
  4. Tackle sexual and reproductive health disparities faced by Black women and women of colour
  5. Ensure Community Sexual and Reproductive Health training posts are fully funded.

The letter was signed by 60 organisations, including the NPA and the RPS, and over 800 RSRH members and clinicians.

Gareth Jones, director of external affairs at the NPA, urged the government to implement the Hatfield vision on women’s health ‘as a priority’.

‘Community pharmacies have played a vital role in providing easy, affordable care for women and girls, including providing advice and access to emergency contraception in a safe and non-judgemental environment,' he said.

‘That is why we want to see the introduction of a dedicated Sexual and Reproductive Health Strategy and a commitment to continuing the Women’s Health Strategy, which will help to tackle health inequalities and widen access to services.'

And Professor Claire Anderson, RPS president, told The Pharmacist: ‘All women should have equal access to reproductive healthcare.

‘Pharmacists play a crucial role in providing accessible healthcare, and standardising access to reproductive healthcare will significantly benefit women and reduce health inequalities.

‘We hope the new government will work with us to ensure every individual can access the sexual and reproductive health services they need.’

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said in response to the letter: 'We know there is much work to do to make sure everyone has timely access to sexual health services to support health and wellbeing. Never again will women’s health be neglected and we will prioritise women’s health as we reform the NHS.

'We will work with local government and other partners to prevent ill health, to improve the wider determinants of health and reduce the inequalities that drive poor health.'

Under the NHS Pharmacy Contraception Service, introduced last year, participating community pharmacies can initiate and manage ongoing supplies of oral contraception.

Eventually, the service is expected to include Long Acting Reversible Contraceptives (LARCs) including implants, vaginal rings, injections and patches, but not intrauterine systems (IUS) and intrauterine devices (IUD).