The National Health Service (Primary Medical Services Section 17C Agreements) (Scotland) Regulations 2018

Contraceptive services

This section has no associated Policy Notes

3.—(1) A provider whose agreement includes the provision of contraceptive services must make available to all its patients who request such services the services described in sub-paragraph (2).

(2) The services referred to in sub-paragraph (1) are—

(a)the giving of advice about the full range of contraceptive methods;

(b)where appropriate, the medical examination of patients seeking such advice;

(c)the treatment of such patients for contraceptive purposes and the prescribing of contraceptive substances and appliances (excluding the fitting and implanting of intrauterine devices and implants);

(d)the giving of advice about emergency contraception and, where appropriate, the supplying or prescribing of emergency hormonal contraception or, where the provider has a conscientious objection to emergency contraception, a prompt referral to another provider (by any arrangement) of primary medical services who does not have such conscientious objections;

(e)the provision of advice and referral in cases of unplanned or unwanted pregnancy, including advice about the availability of free pregnancy testing in the practice area and, where appropriate, where the provider has a conscientious objection to the termination of pregnancy, a prompt referral to another provider (by any arrangement) of primary medical services who does not have such conscientious objections;

(f)the giving of initial advice about sexual health promotion and sexually transmitted infections; and

(g)the referral as necessary for specialist sexual health services, including tests for sexually transmitted infections.

(3) An agreement which includes the provision of contraceptive services must provide that, for the purposes of paragraphs 11 to 14 of schedule 1, drugs includes contraceptive substances and appliances includes contraceptive appliances.