The National Health Service (General Medical Services Contracts) Regulations 2004

Contraceptive services

3.—(1) A contractor whose contract includes the provision of contraceptive services shall 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 contractor has a conscientious objection to emergency contraception, prompt referral to another provider 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 contractor has a conscientious objection to the termination of pregnancy, prompt referral to another provider 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.