Agenda item

Sue Greig, Locum Consultant in Public Health, presented a report on the proposed expansion of the Emergency Hormonal Contraception (EHC) Sexual Health Services commissioned from community pharmacies across Rotherham and the development of care pathways and safeguarding reporting mechanisms for all young people accessing the services.

The current Public Health Services contract (from April, 2013) in relation to Emergency Hormonal Contraception with pharmacists operating in Rotherham specified that they provide the service, free of charge, to females aged 16 years and over.  This was an alternative choice of provision within the community to that which was offered by General Practitioners, Outreach Nurses and the Rotherham Integrated Sexual Health Service.

It was acknowledged that by extending the Service to 14-16 year old females, providers needed to be especially vigilant in relation to any Safeguarding issues that may arise especially concerns around the possibility of Child Sexual Exploitation.  It was acknowledged that there were also specific Safeguarding issues in relation to this vulnerable group of young women which needed to be taken into consideration.  Any pharmacist supplying EHC to a young woman aged 14-15 years of age would automatically refer through to the Rotherham Integrated Youth Service where support, appropriate referral and a further risk assessment would be carried out.

The proposal to extend the provision of EHC at pharmacies had been considered by the Local Pharmaceutical Committee who had agreed in principle to the necessary variations to the local contract.  The variation would include the necessity for all participating pharmacists to have successfully completed the Council’s online training package on CSE and sexual abuse.

Discussion ensued with the following issues raised/clarified:-

-          Referral pathway for pharmacists dispensing EHC to young women had been developed

-          Electronic recording system in use to allow more accurate monitoring – data collected would give a much clearer picture of the use of pharmacy accessed EHC

-          The age/date of birth would automatically cause an alert for a young woman aged 14 and 15 years and highlight the required referral process

-          Currently if a 14 year old female went to her GP for EHC it would be down to the GP’s professional judgement as to whether a referral was made.  Under this proposal pharmacies had to make a referral

-          If there were a number of risk factors a referral would be made to MASH and the CSE Team.  However, even if there were no concerns a referral would be made to Youth Start for an assessment and further work.  If the young person declined the offer it would trigger a note of concern through the system

-          A similar conversation now needed to take place with CASH and GPs with regard to flagging up if a 14/15 year old presented at their service

-          The electronic system would enable services to ascertain if there was a pattern

-          The Youth Offending Service had not raised any concerns about the possible increased referrals

-          It was highly likely that the young person would be known to the Youth Service and would, therefore, be another piece of intelligence

-          Monthly monitoring data would be received through the community pharmacy route

-          Community pharmacists were skilled professionals and the training would support them in asking the questions to draw out the information – if they did not undertake the training they could not offer the service

-          It was hoped to have the first pharmacy offering the service in January, 2015

Resolved:-  That the proposal set out in the report for the provision of Emergency Hormonal Contraception Sexual Health Services be approved.