Yes. In England, pharmacies that offer the NHS Pharmacy Contraception Service can start you on the contraceptive pill, or give you more of the pill you already take, without a GP appointment or a prescription. It is free. You talk to a pharmacist in private, they check the pill is suitable for you, and, if it is suitable, they can usually supply it there and then. Denton Pharmacy offers this NHS service at our pharmacy on Ashton Road.
Looking to book? See our NHS contraception service in Denton, where you can book a free, confidential consultation online.
What the NHS Pharmacy Contraception Service is
It is a national NHS service run by community pharmacies in England. NHS England’s service specification says it covers three things:
- starting the contraceptive pill
- routine checks and ongoing supplies of the pill
- the emergency contraception pill (the morning after pill)
The aim is to give people more choice about where they get contraception, and to free up GP and sexual health clinic appointments for more complex needs. You do not need a referral. You can go to a pharmacy yourself, or a GP surgery, sexual health clinic or NHS 111 may point you to one.
Every pharmacy has to sign up to offer it, so not all do. The NHS website has a search to find a pharmacy that offers the contraceptive pill without a prescription.
Who the service is for
The NHS says you may be able to get the contraceptive pill from a pharmacy if you need to:
- start the pill for the first time
- start the pill again after a break from it
- get a regular ongoing supply of the pill
NHS England counts switching to a different pill, after a talk with the pharmacist, as starting a new one. For an ongoing supply, your current pill should have come from a GP, a pharmacy or a sexual health clinic, and you should still be using it.
You do not have to be registered with a GP. The specification says one aim of the service is to reach people with no GP registration. If you already have a prescription for the pill, the NHS says you can keep using it as usual, or use a pharmacy instead if you prefer.
There are upper age limits, which depend on the type of pill. The pharmacist will also check whether the pill is right for you at all, using national NHS protocols.
What happens at the appointment
According to the NHS and NHS England, you can expect the following:
- A private talk. You speak to a pharmacist, or a trained pharmacy technician, in the pharmacy’s consultation room. A phone or video consultation is allowed when the pharmacist thinks it is suitable. You can ask for a chaperone.
- Questions about your health. The pharmacist asks about your health and any medicines you take. With your permission, they may look at your GP record.
- Some simple checks. For some types of pill, the pharmacist needs your blood pressure and your height and weight. They may measure these, or you can give your own recent readings if the pharmacist thinks that is suitable.
- A talk about other options. The pharmacist must also talk to you about longer-acting methods of contraception that work better at preventing pregnancy. This service only covers pills, so for those you would go to a GP or sexual health clinic.
- Advice on taking the pill. The pharmacist explains how to take it and the possible side effects. Read the leaflet too.
If the pill is suitable, the pharmacy can supply it. The specification says a first supply is for up to 3 months. After that, ongoing supplies are usually for at least 6 months and can be for up to 12 months, unless there is a clinical reason for less.
If the pill is not suitable, the pharmacist will explain why and refer you to your GP or a sexual health clinic.
Is it free, and who is told?
The NHS says getting the contraceptive pill is free, with or without a prescription. The specification adds that prescription charges do not apply to pills supplied through this service.
Your GP is only told if you agree. Some information about your consultation is shared with the NHS Business Services Authority, which pays pharmacies, and with NHS England, which monitors the service. The pharmacist will tell you about this.
How it works at Denton Pharmacy
Our contraception service runs under the NHS Pharmacy Contraception Service:
- Free on the NHS, with no GP appointment or referral needed
- Confidential, in our private consultation room
- Open to anyone who has started their periods, including under 16s (see below). Upper age limits depend on the type of pill.
- If the pharmacist decides the pill is suitable for you, we can usually supply it the same day
We are at 14-16 Ashton Road, Denton, M34 3EX, open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5:30pm. You can book an appointment online or call 0161 336 2548. Our price list shows contraception as free on the NHS.
If you are under 16
You can use our NHS contraception service if you are under 16. The pharmacist will talk with you in private and ask some extra questions, to check that you understand the advice and that the service is right for you. They will encourage you to think about talking to a parent, carer or another adult you trust, but you do not have to. You need to speak to the pharmacist yourself. Someone else cannot have the consultation for you.
Contraception is free and confidential for under 16s. The NHS says the pharmacist will not tell anyone, including your parents or carers, unless they think you or someone else is at risk of harm. If you are 12 or under, the pharmacist will still listen and help, and they will also talk to the local team whose job is to protect children. Sexual health clinics, GP surgeries and young people’s services can help too. The national sexual health helpline is 0300 123 7123.
Common questions
Can you get the contraceptive pill from a pharmacy?
Yes, from pharmacies in England that offer the NHS Pharmacy Contraception Service. You do not need a prescription.
How do I get the contraceptive pill from a pharmacy?
Find a pharmacy that offers the service, then book or ask for a consultation. The pharmacist talks to you in private and supplies the pill if it is suitable.
Is the contraceptive pill free?
Yes. The NHS says it is free from a pharmacy offering the service, and with a prescription from a GP or sexual health clinic.
Can I get the morning after pill at the same pharmacy?
Pharmacies offering the service must also offer free emergency contraception. Our guide on getting the morning after pill free from a pharmacy explains how that works.
Important health information
This article is general information only. It does not recommend a medicine or replace an individual assessment by a pharmacist, GP or sexual health clinic. The contraceptive pill does not protect against sexually transmitted infections. For a life-threatening emergency, call 999. For urgent medical help that is not life-threatening, use NHS 111.
Sources
Official guidance checked 19 October 2026:
- NHS: Find a pharmacy that offers the contraceptive pill without a prescription
- NHS: Where to get contraception
- NHS England: NHS Pharmacy Contraception Service specification
Written to NHS and NHS England guidance. Published by Denton Pharmacy. Superintendent Pharmacist: Ahmed Al-Liabi (GPhC 2208502).
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