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Original poster

Just been refused a prescription for the morning after pill as you can buy it from a pharmacy

74 replies

Youally · 01/04/2022 15:02

I called the GP surgery to ask if the practice nurse could prescribe the MAP for me and was told the NHS don’t prescribe it anymore as you can buy it. I’ve just been to boots and it costs nearly £30.

It’s the first time I’ve ever used the MAP and actually the first time I’ve used my GP in 4 years! What about people who can’t afford it?

OP posts:
BoredZelda · 01/04/2022 15:56

I think it was called Minor Ailments or something, but it got badly abused by people stocking up on free Calpol and the like.

This still exists in Scotland.

Gonnagetgoing · 01/04/2022 15:58

I'm sure not that long ago a walk in centre gave me MAP for free. when I had periods this was.

Creameggs223 · 01/04/2022 15:59

@Youally

I’m trying to find a pharmacy which prescribes for free but not having much luck. I can’t believe the NHS does not prescribe this anymore. £30 is a lot of money to some people!
It's also alot of money for the nhs when it's something that can be avoided with something very simple like condoms, the pill, and any other form of free contraception

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MurmuratingStarling · 01/04/2022 16:01

@Creameggs223 makes a very good point.

PissedOffNeighbour22 · 01/04/2022 16:01

Did they give you any options? The brand name is £30 ish but the levonorgestrel should be about £10. Boots were pushing it in the news a few weeks ago about how cheap they were selling it and others have followed suit from what I've read.

MrOllivander · 01/04/2022 16:02

@BuffyFanForever

Contraception is free though from a range of places...
Which is ok until it fails I told myself I took the pill every day on time religiously and he didn't finish so my weird "I'm pregnant" thought was ridiculous I was wrong
MurmuratingStarling · 01/04/2022 16:21

@MrOllivander

I told myself I took the pill every day on time religiously and he didn't finish so my weird "I'm pregnant" thought was ridiculous
I was wrong

Am I the only one who is struggling to understand this? Confused

DamnUserName21 · 01/04/2022 16:34

@Mamamia7962

Because contraception in the UK is free, and with the NHS struggling they have to try and save money somewhere.
It's short-sighted. A lifetime of healthcare, education, benefits and state pension for a new person is FAR more costly.

OP, can you get to a sexual health/family planning clinic? They *should have them free there.

MrOllivander · 01/04/2022 16:35

[quote MurmuratingStarling]@MrOllivander

I told myself I took the pill every day on time religiously and he didn't finish so my weird "I'm pregnant" thought was ridiculous
I was wrong

Am I the only one who is struggling to understand this? Confused[/quote]
I was on the pill, which I took every day at the same time
I had sex, he didn't finish
After sex I thought "I'm pregnant" but I didn't get the MAP because well, the above two sentences made me think I was having a stupid thought
I was wrong, I was pregnant

Just about contraception failure. If I had been for the MAP and said I had taken the pill without fail, not been sick or had upset stomach and he didn't finish I probably would have been told it was fine!

Hiddenvoice · 01/04/2022 16:49

Can you contact your local sexual health clinic? They might be able to provide it for free or advise on the best/cheapest pharmacy to purchase it

WhatATimeToBeAlive · 01/04/2022 16:51

@MurmuratingStarling

That's a lot!!!

I am fully on board with the GPs refusing prescriptions for things that cost less than a fiver. But having to buy a £30 item that would only cost a tenner on prescription is terrible.

But it would still cost the NHS the £30!
Theunamedcat · 01/04/2022 16:56

Yes a baby costs a lot but if you can't afford the thirty quid your going to cost the NHS more for an abortion or life long health care

Making people pay for contraception is a shortsighted cost saving

Roselilly36 · 01/04/2022 16:58

@Mamamia7962

Because contraception in the UK is free, and with the NHS struggling they have to try and save money somewhere.
Rather a false economy, I would say. Of course the OP, should have had a prescription for it.
ChopinBoard · 01/04/2022 17:00

*making women pay

newnamexyz · 01/04/2022 17:00

You can get it free here. They're part of the NHS

https://sh24.org.uk/ecnowworder/ageanddpostcode/new

Or the nhs website say this

Where can I get emergency contraception?
Getting it for free
You can get emergency contraception for free, even if you're under 16, from these places, but they may not all fit the IUD:
• contraception clinics
• sexual health or genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics
• some GP surgeries
• some young people's clinics
• most NHS walk-in centres and minor injuries units
• most pharmacies
• some accident and emergency (A&E) departments (phone first to check)

MayMorris · 01/04/2022 17:03

I’m shocked. Gobsmacked by this
I thought contraceptives were still free
And I thought you didn’t need to pay for an abortion?
Am I wrong?
Then why the hell are women being charged for an early medical abortion ( potential abortion lets say)
If it’s right that it’s to stop women treating it as a contraception,nwell
a. It’s a bit bloody late in the day to make that point
B. If women can’t afford it and abortion is free it’ll just serve to push more abortions. Wtf.

Yet again, some idiot that decides to try to “educate” women about their bodies by fining them for accidents or forgetfulness or a bit moments of of stupid risk. How about they educate women on the costs and ensure other forms of contraceptions are more readily available. How about they educate men to always have and use condoms.

I’m appalled .

Ducksurprise · 01/04/2022 17:03

@Theunamedcat

Yes a baby costs a lot but if you can't afford the thirty quid your going to cost the NHS more for an abortion or life long health care

Making people pay for contraception is a shortsighted cost saving

Agree. I read that the reason Scotlands prescription is free is because it costs less to prevent than to treat.
Roomba · 01/04/2022 17:08

One of my local pharmacies offers it free - they have a big sign outside on the pavement. They filled in a form with my details which then got sent to my GP/local health authority, who reimbursed them.

This is in Lancashire though, possible that other health authorities don't run this service with pharmacies.

Its a good job it was free for me, too, as I didn't have even a tenner at the time! Charging £30 for what is essentially several days worth of the mini pill in one tablet is ridiculous.

ApertureGLaDOS · 01/04/2022 17:10

@Creameggs223 While I do understand what you are saying, my two experiences of MAP over the past 20 or so years has been accidents (contraception failure/ extreme sickness). I paid for the later one but the first happened when I was checking the back of the sofa for bus fare. I’m not convinced there are so many women just not bothering with contraception which requires one appointment in 6 months to get the MAP every time after instead.

As far as cost-cutting goes, it’s a stupid one. An abortion or maternity services cost a hell of a lot more.

Soontobe60 · 01/04/2022 17:13

According to the NHS website it’s free!

www.nhs.uk/conditions/contraception/where-can-i-get-emergency-contraception/

As for those posters who are saying it costs more to have a baby, you managed to buy it so you could afford it etc, get off your bloody high horses!
In this day and age, £30 is a great deal of money for some people to find at very short notice. Coupled with the anxiety of a possible unwanted pregnancy, it’s not a position I’d have liked to have been in when I was younger.
We have free contraception. Should we also not be providing the MAP for free? It’s still contraception. As someone else pointed out, the cost to the NHS for 9 months maternity care, giving birth and ante natal care plus raising a child far outweighs the cost of one dose of MAP.

Soontobe60 · 01/04/2022 17:20

@WhatATimeToBeAlive

It costs pence to manufacture. It certainly doesn’t cost the NHS £30!!!!

www.dazeddigital.com/life-culture/article/36823/1/uk-pharmacy-refuses-to-make-the-morning-after-pill-cheaper

DamnUserName21 · 01/04/2022 17:42

@MayMorris

I’m shocked. Gobsmacked by this I thought contraceptives were still free And I thought you didn’t need to pay for an abortion? Am I wrong? Then why the hell are women being charged for an early medical abortion ( potential abortion lets say) If it’s right that it’s to stop women treating it as a contraception,nwell a. It’s a bit bloody late in the day to make that point B. If women can’t afford it and abortion is free it’ll just serve to push more abortions. Wtf.

Yet again, some idiot that decides to try to “educate” women about their bodies by fining them for accidents or forgetfulness or a bit moments of of stupid risk. How about they educate women on the costs and ensure other forms of contraceptions are more readily available. How about they educate men to always have and use condoms.

I’m appalled .

Most contraceptives are still free although you can pay privately also Abortions are free on the NHS Early medical abortion is free on the NHS Emergency contraception (MAP) is free at sexual health clinics. GPs (in England) are not issuing MAP (i assume they still can in some situations) and women are being fobbed off to pharmacies. I don't know why.
Slumcat · 01/04/2022 17:55

I work in sexual health and I’ve noted a huge increase in women not being able to get it from their GP practice it gives me the rage - OP call your local sexual health service see if you can get in - otherwise there are many pharmacies that issue for free (not all of them though), can you Google any near to yourself and call to see if they issue for free, lastly ASDA recently reduced the cost of EC to £9 if you’re able to get to a Asda chemist

XioXio · 01/04/2022 18:13

Does this service cover your area?
sh24.org.uk/ec_now_order/age_and_postcode/new

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