Contraception at the pharmacy: no GP needed

For decades, getting the pill meant booking a GP appointment — and getting it again meant booking another one. That has changed. Under the NHS Pharmacy Contraception Service, you can now start oral contraception, continue your usual supply, and get emergency contraception at Selly Pharmacy, without seeing a GP at all.

What the service covers

• Starting the pill for the first time — the pharmacist can assess you and supply the combined pill or the progestogen-only (mini) pill, free on the NHS.
• Restarting after a break — same process, no need to go back to your GP.
• Repeat supplies — if you are already on the pill, we can take over your ongoing supply, whether it was first prescribed by a GP, a sexual health clinic, or another pharmacy.
• Emergency contraception — same-day, confidential, with NHS and private options.

Starting the pill: what actually happens

You walk in or message ahead, and we book you into the private consultation room — not a conversation over the counter. The consultation takes around 15 to 20 minutes:

1. The pharmacist asks about your health, any medicines you take, and your family history — the same checks a GP would do.
2. We measure your blood pressure and weight, which matter for the combined pill.
3. Together you choose a pill that suits you, and the pharmacist explains how to take it, what to do about missed pills, and what side effects to look out for.
4. You leave with your first supply the same day.

If the assessment shows the pill is not right for you — for example, blood pressure too high for the combined pill — the pharmacist will talk through the alternatives and point you to the right service. You will never just be turned away.

Repeat supplies without the GP queue

Once you are set up, ongoing supplies work like a repeat prescription, but simpler: come in, quick check, walk out with your next supply. We will tell you when your next blood pressure check is due. For students and anyone else who is time-poor, this alone is worth switching for.

Emergency contraception

Sometimes things go wrong — a missed pill, a split condom, or no contraception at all. Emergency contraception works better the sooner you take it, which is exactly why pharmacy access matters: no appointment, six days a week, same-day supply.

There are two types of morning-after pill: one licensed up to 72 hours after unprotected sex, and one up to 120 hours. The pharmacist will advise which is right for your situation in a private, judgement-free consultation. NHS and private options are available. More detail on our emergency contraception page.

Do students need to be registered with a local GP?

No — the pharmacy contraception service does not require you to be registered with any particular GP. That said, if you are a University of Birmingham student living in Selly Oak, registering locally is still a good idea for everything else. We have written a full student healthcare guide covering exactly that.

Is it confidential?

Completely. Consultations happen in a private room, and pharmacists work to the same confidentiality standards as doctors. Nothing is discussed at the counter beyond booking you in.

What it costs

The NHS Pharmacy Contraception Service is free — the consultation and the pill supply. Emergency contraception is free under the NHS for most people; where a private supply is the better route, we will tell you the cost upfront before anything is supplied.

Visiting us in Selly Oak

Selly Pharmacy is on Bristol Road, opposite Tesco Express and the Esso petrol station, two minutes from Selly Oak station and right by the University of Birmingham. Walk-ins are welcome six days a week.