§ Earl Howeasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the morning-after pill is to be issued free of charge by pharmacies and school nurses to teenagers in Exeter, including those under 16, without parental consent or knowledge; and, if so, whether this practice is lawful. [HL5407]
§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathA small number of school nurses have been trained to issue emergency contraception to pupils as one part of the wider support they provide within school based drop in clinics. The governing bodies of the individual schools concerned have taken this decision, after consultation with parents. All parents have received information about the service.
A pilot project is currently being developed to train pharmacists to provide emergency contraception under National Health Service arrangements. This is part of a wider scheme to improve access to emergency contraception by older women. The project is due to start in late autumn.
219WAEmergency contraception is only provided to young people under 16 under medical supervision. This includes the supply by other health professionals, such as school nurses and community pharmacists, working to Patient Group Directions. A Patient Group Direction is a written instruction for the supply or administration of medicines to groups of patients without an individualised doctor's prescription.
Health professionals can provide contraception to young people under 16 provided they are satisfied that the young person is competent to understand fully the implications of any treatment and to make a choice of the treatment involved. Health professionals work within an established legal framework which involves assessing the young person's competence to understand the choices they are making and encouraging them to talk to their parents. All professionals are bound by their professional code of confidentiality. A young person's request for confidentiality is respected unless there are serious child protection issues.
These services aimed at improving early access to emergency contraception should be seen in the context of a much wider programme of work in the Exeter teenage pregnancy strategy. This includes helping young people to resist pressure to have early sex through improved sex and relationship education and involving parents and the wider community.