Pharmacists will be able to fit women with coils and implants under NHS plans to free up GPs.
Under the same shake-up of contraceptives access, women will also be able to get the Pill without needing a doctor’s appointment.
The scheme — currently being trialed — is set to be fully rolled out across England later this year, MailOnline has learned.
It is part of the wider drive to ease pressure on GPs, with pharmacists already given powers to issue sick notes.
Experts hope the reforms, which are still being negotiated with unions, will free up another 2million appointments a year.
Women can now have their annual contraceptive pill checks at pharmacies, while plans are in place to soon introduce implant and injectable contraceptive checks
Under current rules, pharmacists are permitted to dispense oral contraceptive pills and offer advice on different types of contraception. But they cannot prescribe, fit contraceptives or carry out an annual pill check up.
The reform, which will begin nationally in the coming weeks, is split into four stages.
The first will see pharmacists able to provide an annual contraceptive pill check up, taking responsibility solely away from GPs.
Such appointments involve checking a patient’s weight, blood pressure and whether they are suffering from any side effects — as well as discussing alternative contraceptive methods and sharing information about how patients can change to a new method.
It will be available to those who are already on the Pill. But women can also continue to see their GP for their annual check if they prefer.
The first tier of the national contraception service was expected to roll out nationally from January 11. However, IT issues delayed the national launch, insiders claim.
The second stage, currently set to be rolled out from October, will see pharmacies in England also able to prescribe the Pill to anyone else wishing to take it.
Both of these phases have already been trialed in pilots across the country.
Under the third stage, pharmacies will monitor and manage the dispensing of repeat long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARC).
LARCS includes implants — a small plastic rod placed into the upper arm which prevents pregnancy for three years.
They also include intrauterine systems (IUS) and intrauterine devices (IUDs), which are small T-shaped devices put into the womb — usually by a doctor or nurse.
They work by either releasing progestogen (IUS) or being made from copper (IUD), both of which prevent pregnancy.
Pharmacists would also be able to offer the contraceptive injection under the fourth stage of the plan.
The move comes as the Government is preparing to publish its Primary Care Recovery Plan.
It is expected to detail how ministers will tackle record low levels of public satisfaction with GP surgeries, which have left patients struggling to secure face-to-face appointments.
It is also likely involve handing over more powers to pharmacists, with Brits encouraged to seek help from their local pharmacist for minor ailments.
Former shadow women and equalities secretary, Taiwo Owatemi, who sits on the Health and Social Care Committee and chairs the All-Party Pharmacy Group (APPG) told MailOnline the service was a ‘welcome step’.
She said: ‘I know it will be a vital lifeline for women across the UK who need easily accessible contraceptive care in their communities.
‘It will break down important hurdles women face having to speak to a doctor and instead will place care in their own hands.
‘And while I am happy this is finally coming to fruition; it is frustrating that the Government’s dither and delay has slowed down progress in this area so much.’
The Labour MP added: ‘I urge the Government to consult with the All-Party Group and Pharmacy sector organisations and listen to our concerns.
‘Community pharmacies can provide so many services, we must stop looking at our pharmacies as simply the place where we pick up our medication.
‘A Pharmacy First scheme must be implemented so that Pharmacies are always the first port of call for minor illnesses. Only by giving pharmacies these extra powers can we solve the crisis across primary care.
‘It is disappointing that the Government’s own Primary Care Minister, Neil O’Brien refuses to meet with the APPG, exemplifying the serious failure of leadership this Government is showing when it comes to saving our pharmacies.’
Under the scheme, pharmacists can check patient’s weight, height and blood pressure and make sure they are not experiencing any dangerous side effects, such as clotting and migraines, as well as dispensing the medication. They can also discuss alternative contraceptive methods and information about how patients can change to a new method
Meanwhile, Malcolm Harrison, chief executive of the Company Chemists’ Association, which represents large pharmacy operators such as Boots, said: ‘The pharmacy contraception service is further recognition of the role that pharmacy can play in building capacity and resilience in primary care.
‘We estimate that, with investment, 2million routine GP contraception appointments could be safely transferred into pharmacies.’
He added: ‘However, this initial phase will only provide enhanced access to a limited number of people.
‘The NHS must rollout the subsequent phases — two, three and four — of this service at pace.’
Pharmacy chiefs also called on the Government to provide ‘the additional funding needed’ to allow chemists across England to participate in the service.
The impact of the pandemic, spiraling drug prices, staff shortages and inflationary pressures has seen the sector plunged into crisis, with hundreds of high street pharmacies under threat of extinction.
The funding package allocated to pharmacies in England – set in 2019 at £5.2bn until 2024 — falls short by £500million according to the community pharmacists’ representative body, Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee.
Mr Harrison added: ‘More than 42million GP appointments could be safely transferred into pharmacies in England.
‘This requires the Government to invest in a sector that is currently underfunded to the tune of £67,000 per pharmacy.
He said: ‘The pharmacy sector is at a crossroads — investment now will help deliver more and more NHS services or all parts of England will continue to see pharmacies close for good’.
Meanwhile, Dr Leyla Hannbeck, chief executive of the Association of Independent Multiple Pharmacies, told MailOnline: ‘It’s difficult to see how pharmacy can continue to provide these services when the funding is simply removed from the fees for other parts of the service to pay for the training and supply.
‘In addition, the inadequate IT solutions provided by NHS England continue to make the administrative aspects too complex and impact on pharmacists ability to prioritise frontline care to patients.
‘As such we may see continued delays in bringing this service to life at scale.’
Vice chair of the National Pharmacy Association Nick Kaye added: ‘Pharmacies are convenient and non-stigmatising places to access sexual and reproductive health services.
‘Most pharmacies have consultation rooms where confidential conversations can take place about safe and effective use of oral contraception and potential side-effects.’
He warned however that ‘the chances of a successful national rollout of the oral contraception service are much reduced by a decade of chronic underfunding which has brought pharmacies across England to their knees’.
Mr Kaye said: ‘Pharmacy owners are being forced to apply their energies to keeping their business afloat, rather than implementing new NHS services.
‘The money for this service is not new — it is being taken from existing pharmacy budgets. Pharmacies are being asked to do more and more work with ever diminishing capacity to deliver patient care.’
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