Yes. Since 29 October 2025, pharmacies in England that offer the NHS Pharmacy Contraception Service can give you the morning after pill (the emergency contraception pill) free, with no GP appointment and no prescription. It is also free from most sexual health clinics and most GP surgeries. At Denton Pharmacy on Ashton Road, the NHS contraception service is free and confidential, and our pharmacist can supply emergency contraception the same day if it is suitable for you.
Looking to book? See our NHS contraception service in Denton, where you can book a free, confidential consultation online.
Free emergency contraception from pharmacies in England
NHS England made the emergency contraception pill free in high street pharmacies across England from 29 October 2025. You do not need to see a GP or book a sexual health clinic first. The pharmacist or pharmacy technician holds a private consultation with you and decides whether a supply is right for you.
Every pharmacy in England can offer the service, but not all have signed up. Check before you go, or use the NHS find emergency contraception search. Many pharmacies also sell the emergency pill, but through the NHS service there is nothing to pay.
How soon you need emergency contraception
The NHS says emergency contraception needs to be used within 3 to 5 days of sex without contraception, or when contraception may have failed, such as missed pills or a problem with a condom. The sooner you use it, the more likely it is to work. There are two types of emergency contraception:
- Emergency contraception pills: there are two types, one that works up to 3 days (72 hours) after sex and one that works up to 5 days (120 hours) after sex. The pharmacist will help you work out which one suits you.
- A copper IUD (copper coil): it can be fitted up to 5 days (120 hours) after sex.
The copper coil is the most effective option
The NHS and NICE both say the copper IUD is the most effective type of emergency contraception. It is a small plastic T-shape, with no hormones, that a trained nurse or doctor puts into the womb. It is free, but it needs an appointment, usually at a sexual health clinic or some GP surgeries. It can then stay in as your regular contraception for 5 or 10 years, depending on the type.
Pharmacies cannot fit a coil. Under the NHS service, the pharmacist must talk to you about the coil as well as the pill. If you would like one, contact a sexual health clinic or your GP as soon as you can.
What happens at the pharmacy
The consultation takes place in a private room. The pharmacist will ask when you had sex, about your periods and about any medicines you take. The NHS says some medicines for epilepsy, HIV or tuberculosis, and the herbal remedy St John’s wort, can affect the emergency pill. Some people are advised to have a coil instead.
The pharmacist will check the pill is suitable for you. If it is not, they will explain why and refer you to your GP or a sexual health clinic. If you agree, the pharmacy can let your GP know about the consultation.
Read the leaflet that comes with the pill. Common side effects include headache, feeling sick and period-like pain. If you are sick within 2 hours of taking it, talk to a pharmacist straight away, as you may need another pill. The emergency pill does not protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
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
- Available to anyone aged 16 and over
- Same-day appointments: pop in, or book an appointment online
- We can also help you start or continue the contraceptive pill
We are at 14-16 Ashton Road, Denton, open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5:30pm, and closed at weekends. If you need emergency contraception when we are closed, use the NHS search to find another pharmacy, clinic or GP, so you are not waiting. You can call us on 0161 336 2548. Our price list shows our other NHS and private services.
When to see a GP or sexual health clinic instead
- You would like a copper coil fitted.
- The pharmacist finds the pill is not suitable for you.
- You are under 16. Our service is for people aged 16 and over. The NHS says contraception is free and confidential for under-16s too, from sexual health clinics, GP surgeries and young people’s services. The national sexual health helpline is 0300 123 7123.
- Your next period is more than 7 days late, is lighter than usual, or comes with tummy pain that is not like your usual period pain. NICE advises a pregnancy test.
- You are worried about STIs. Sexual health clinics offer free, confidential testing.
Common questions
Can I get the morning after pill free in Manchester?
Yes. Any pharmacy in England that offers the NHS contraception service can supply it free, including Denton Pharmacy. Sexual health clinics and most GP surgeries also provide it free.
How do I find a free morning after pill near me?
Use the NHS find emergency contraception search, or call the pharmacy first. Not every pharmacy has signed up to the NHS service.
Do I need an appointment at the pharmacy?
NHS England says you can go to a participating pharmacy without an appointment. At Denton Pharmacy you can pop in, or book online if you prefer a set time.
Will anyone else know?
The consultation is confidential and held in a private room. Your GP is only told if you agree.
You may also find our guide on how to get blister packs from a pharmacy useful, another question about what your pharmacy can do without a GP.
Important health information
This article is general information only. It does not diagnose a condition, recommend a medicine, or replace an individual assessment by a pharmacist, GP or sexual health clinic. For a life-threatening emergency, call 999. For urgent medical help that is not life-threatening, use NHS 111.
Sources
Official guidance checked 23 September 2026:
- NHS: Emergency contraception
- NHS: What is the emergency contraceptive pill
- NHS: Where to get the emergency contraceptive pill
- NHS: Who can take the emergency contraceptive pill
- NHS: How the emergency contraceptive pill works
- NHS: Side effects of the emergency contraceptive pill
- NHS: What is an IUD (copper coil)
- NHS: Where to get an IUD
- NHS: Where to get contraception
- NHS: Find a sexual health clinic
- NHS England: Free morning after pill at high street pharmacies (29 October 2025)
- NHS England: NHS Pharmacy Contraception Service specification
- NICE CKS: Contraception, emergency
- NICE CKS: Contraception, emergency: management
Written to NHS, NHS England and NICE guidance. Published by Denton Pharmacy. Superintendent Pharmacist: Ahmed Al-Liabi (GPhC 2208502).
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Book your consultation with Denton Pharmacy in Denton. Same-day and next-day appointments usually available.
