More than 20 pharmacies in Brighton and Hove are offering free a sexual health service for young people from today – St Valentine’s Day.
The new service will make condoms, morning-after pills and chlamydia testing and treatment available free of charge to people aged under 25.
The idea has come from Brighton and Hove City Teaching Primary Care Trust (PCT) – also known as NHS Brighton and Hove.
Amanda Marshall, community pharmacy development manager at the PCT, said: “Twenty three local pharmacies will offer this service which is part of our drive to improve young people’s sexual health and reduce unwanted pregnancies.
“When using this accessible service, young people will have a confidential chat with the pharmacist.
“This will ensure they are fully aware of the risks of sexually transmitted infections and the benefits of safe sex and efficient contraception.”
As part of the free service, young people can
- collect condoms using the C-Card scheme which means a card is stamped whenever condoms are collected
- collect emergency hormonal contraception, also known as the morning-after pill, if needed
- have a free chlamydia test as untreated chlamydia can lead to infertility.
If the test is positive, a nurse will make contact to organise antibiotic treatment via the pharmacy.
The following pharmacies are taking part in the scheme
Boots 119-120 London Road, Brighton
Boots 129 North Street, Brighton
Ross 3 York Place, Brighton
Stephen Bower 109 St James’s Street, Kemp Town
Superdrug 78 Western Road, Brighton
Asda Brighton Marina, Brighton
Kamsons 50 The Highway, Moulsecoomb
Westons 6-7 Coombe Terrace, Brighton
Burwash Pharmacy 11 Burwash Road, Hangleton, Hove
Sussex University Health Centre Health Centre Building, Falmer
Alliance 76 Boundary Road, Hove
Boots 57-61 George Street, Hove
Co-op Mile Oak Clinic, Portslade
Day Lewis 181 Church Road, Hove
Lane & Steadman 100 Western Road, Hove
Lloyds 105 Church Road, Hove
Kamsons 2 Lewes Road, Brighton
Co-op 13 Warren Way, Woodingdean
Bridgmans 116 Cowley Drive, Woodingdean
I V Jones 128 St James’s Street, Kemp Town
Watts 110 Dyke Road, Brighton
Lloyds Pharmacy Wellsbourne Health Centre, Whitehawk
Lloyds Pharmacy County Oak Medical Centre, Carden Hill, Brighton