As part of a landmark initiative, axess sexual health has been contracted by Liverpool City Council to launch a pilot to provide contraceptive implants at a local pharmacy in Allerton. The selected pharmacy will be the first in the UK to be commissioned by the NHS to provide implants free to service users.

The contraceptive implant is a small, flexible plastic rod inserted under the skin of your upper arm by a doctor or nurse. It is a long-acting reversible contraceptive (LARC) which releases a hormone called progestogen to prevent pregnancy for up to three years.

A benefit of the implant is its effectiveness: users do not have to remember to take a pill for it to work, reducing the likelihood of imperfect use.

The initial 12-month pilot has been developed with the aim of increasing uptake of LARC options and reducing rates of unintended pregnancies in Liverpool.

Green Lane Pharmacy, located on Allerton Road, was agreed to be the first pharmacy to participate in the pilot. The pharmacy’s new implant provision will help to bolster the contraceptive offer of existing axess sexual health services. Its proximity to student accommodation also means it is well placed to support younger people who require LARC.

Speaking about the launch of the pilot, Sian Davies, Regional Service Manager at axess sexual health, said: “We are so proud to be leading this groundbreaking initiative alongside Liverpool City Council. Lack of access to contraception undoubtedly leads to higher rates of unintended pregnancies; it is imperative that our service users have equitable and convenient access to a range of methods so they can feel empowered to take control of their contraceptive health.

This UK-first pilot is one of many contraceptive services provided by axess sexual health. Our whole-systems approach means that people can feel safe and comfortable obtaining contraception through the route that works best for them.”

Cllr Harry Doyle, Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Culture, said: “We’re determined to make our sexual health services as convenient and easy as possible to access.

This initiative will help more people obtain the contraception they need and reduce the risk of unintended pregnancies in the city. I look forward to seeing the outcome of the pilot and plans for a broader roll out to more locations.”

Liverpool City Council’s Director of Public Health, Professor Matthew Ashton said: “We are delighted to be leading the way nationally with this pioneering pharmacy implant pilot.

This is the first time that the implant has been available in a pharmacy in the UK and shows our ambition to improve access and reduce inequalities. This without a doubt demonstrates the power of collaboration between public health, the NHS and community pharmacy, and embeds preventative care closer to where people live.”

It is envisioned that other pharmacies across Liverpool will begin to provide the contraceptive implant after the initial pilot phase.

This offer will complement both the national Pharmacy First initiative and axess’ emergency hormonal contraception provision in pharmacies. These schemes allow service users to obtain the contraceptive pill and emergency contraceptive pill, respectively, from pharmacies without requiring a prescription. This combination of healthcare strategies provides a holistic contraceptive package in Liverpool.

Patients can book a contraceptive implant insertion at: www.greenlanepharmacy.co.uk