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Chemists across Scotland to provide morning-after pill

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Published Date: 26 June 2008
By Lyndsay Moss
WOMEN in Scotland are to get easier access to the morning-after pill at pharmacies in moves announced by the Scottish Government yesterday.
The emergency contraception is set to be supplied for free in most of Scotland's 1,200 community pharmacies under changes to their contracts.

Last night, the plan was welcomed by sexual health groups and doctors. However, some campaigners expre
ssed fears it could fuel rising rates of sexually transmitted infections.

Shona Robison, the public health minister, announced an expansion of services provided by community pharmacists at a conference in Glasgow.

As well as free emergency contraception, changes to the contract will lead to pharmacies providing smoking cessation services and free chlamydia testing and treatment. Some pharmacies already offer such services, but provision across Scotland is patchy.

Ms Robison said she hoped by making the services part of the national contract, people across Scotland would get more equal access while certain standards would have to be met.

Women can currently get the morning-after pill free on prescription from their GP or a family planning clinic. But if they are unable to do this, they can buy it over the counter from a pharmacy for around £26.

Pharmacists will be able to opt out of providing the free emergency contraception service as a matter of conscience.

It has not yet been decided if there will be an age limit on who can receive the pill.

Dr Stuart Scott, from the British Medical Association, said the new contracts would help women who could not afford emergency contraception in cases where they were unable to see a GP. He added: "Anything that will help reduce unwanted pregnancies is welcome."

A Family Planning Association spokesman said: "This is welcome news for women and we would like to see more of this type of provision."

But Dr Trevor Stammers, from the charity Family and Youth Concern, said research suggested the morning-after pill did not reduce abortions.

He added: "I am staggered government will be wasting taxpayers' money on something not backed by a scrap of evidence.

"This will make money for the manufacturers but in terms of improving public health it will have no effect."

And last night, a spokesman for the Catholic Church in Scotland

said: "This gives the false impression that careless sexual activity is OK because there is always a fix.

"That message is likely to lead to more, not less, sexually transmitted disease and higher recourse to abortion."

Ms Robison rejected concerns that the move would lead to an increase in sexual disease, adding: "It is important people can get an easily accessible service but the message, particularly to young people, will remain the same – to wait until you are ready for sex and be safe."





Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 25 June 2008 10:42 PM
  • Source: The Scotsman
  • Location: Edinburgh
 
1

Charles Linskaill,

Edinburgh 26/06/2008 00:31:03

"It has not yet been decided if there will be an age limit on who can receive the pill."

Have you EVER Heard Soo Much Rubbish of differing Standards,?

Only yesterday we heard in the EEN, they were going to give this "Pill" out to 13year old girls, in our Schools!!

Soo Let me 'Understand this for a Mo!

Its 'OK' to 'Experiment' with a 13year old Girl, But NOT an older Woman,?

Whys That,?

Are you saying a,..'13year old' has 'NO VOICE' if and when things go wrong!?

Its OK to give a 13year old the likes of, 'Cancer' 10years down the line, but not an Adult Woman!

Because in 'LAW' a 13year old is NOT an Adult!
2

somerferg,

perth 26/06/2008 04:36:55

#2 - well my goodness thats a clever comment. How's about you crawl back under which ever stone you come from.
3

fife runner,

26/06/2008 06:36:50
unfortunately, #2 is probably correct in that it is known excessive drinking is part of the problem in the rise of STDs and teenage pregnancy
4

Anne,

Eaglesham 26/06/2008 06:46:24
And when something goes wrong (and it will - no medicine is 100% safe) who will carry the can?

I can foresee a rise in pharmacists' indemnity insurance.
5

Maximus,

Roberton 26/06/2008 08:27:59
This is typical of government action – no vision and a defeatist attitude. To make contraception and abortaficients more readily available smacks of trying to bolt the stable door once the horse has bolted.

Have we learnt nothing? If we lose the respect for life at its earliest stage we lose respect for life at all stages and ourselves – this is already evident.

Not in my name.
6

Duncan in Edinburgh,

26/06/2008 08:48:40
The Catholic Church is wrong, and the SNP are right on this.

Glad to see them finally facing up to the Catholic Church after 12 months of sucking up to them.
7

Maximus,

Roberton 26/06/2008 09:16:49
#9 If the Catholic Church is wrong on this matter then why is it that those who practice its teachings don’t suffer with STDs, have no unwanted pregnancies, provide a loving home and display charity towards their community? All matters go hand-in-hand, so to undermine just one of these aspects – eg to terminate a pregnancy in its earliest stage – undermines the whole. The whole of humanity is connected and the Church recognizes this and protects this.
8

Boy Wonder,

26/06/2008 09:21:39
How abourt teaching boys and girls that condoms can be used with a good spermicide?

Or are parents too "shy" still to talk to their kids?

It's not up to the schools. They don't have sex in the schools! Well ... not as often! Parents need to stop bypassing this subject in the hope that schools will teach the kids. You have to talk to your kids about real issues ... and this is about as real as it gets!

From at least 12 years old up, they have to know about the workings of sex and how to prevent pregnancies. I don't like the idea of my daughters going on the pill so young ... but I'd rather they did that that leave it up to a stupid boy who doesn't "like" condoms. And there's no proof yet, Chuckles, that they are cancer-causers. We'll err on the side of caution thank you.

And we have to accept that terminationa are just too high. Time to reign in on that too. I absolutely agree with them if there is just cause. But the figures being bandied about are just too high to accept they're all "accidents" or otherwise. I think there has to be stricter rules for terminations.




9

Duncan in Edinburgh,

26/06/2008 09:38:44
#10 You both misunderstand me, and misrepresent reality.

The reason that the Catholic Church is wrong is that the promotion of abstinence does not produce abstinence. It never has, and it never will. The reason the SNP is right is that this policy recognises that sexual health strategies have to be grounded in reality, not based on ideals of behaviour.

As for all followers of Catholic teaching being loving and charitable, do I really need to list to you the people who have suffered at the hands of such "loving" folk? The Catholic Church preaches control, nothing more, nothing less. Where its morals are fair and equitable they are no different to the morals of humanism or rationalism. But they also condemn, undermine and oppress those who their sky God tells them are to be condemned, undermined and oppressed. That's not charity, it's abuse.
10

Yo-Yo,

Edinburgh 26/06/2008 09:56:26
It is time parents started to teach there ofspring the dangers of unprotected sex. Learn them about what STDs are and the dangers and tell them the morning after pill does not get rid of them or OMO/Persil does not wash them off.
11

Horrible Cankers at the Cyber Shebeen,

26/06/2008 11:17:04
It is time sexually active young women took more responsibility and carried condoms with them, and INSISTED that young men use them.....however as it is still seen as a sign of 'being easy' or a 'slag' etc then this may be difficult...perhaps the condom companies need to rethink their advertising strategies and help destigmatise the image of the condom carrying young woman...

...and yes I am aware that in the heat of drunken passion said condom may probably remain in its packet, but then again...it may not...

Any religion and any church should not have a voice in this issue...keep your big pious nose out as you should have no influence on the sexual politics of our lives (unless you want it to personally for you)..

I took this pill several years ago and I am very happy that it was available...I do not feel that it should be regularly available as a form of emergency contraception as this is taking the focus off of STD's and unsafe sex...but you have to ask the question is it really that much different from the pill in its outcome?
12

Arfur,

26/06/2008 12:58:28
#10 Maximus - Come join us. Just leap forward a few century’s.
13

Saoghal Beag,

26/06/2008 13:08:16
10 Maximus, you're having a laugh aren't you?

Duncan, you could add the young girls, and that is below the age of six, who as a perceived cure, are gang raped by AIDs infected men in Africa , who have cavorted with prostitutes while working away from home and being good catholics use no protection. Religous ideals and public health do not go hand in hand.
14

Miss H,

26/06/2008 14:16:28
6 Nobody will carry the can. If a condom bursts you don't sue the chemist you bought it from.

What a fuss over nothing this story is.
15

Maximus,

Roberton 26/06/2008 16:11:27
Duncan - try reading anything on the Theology of the Body by JPII and you will see that it is grounded in real love - I dare you to love. I'm sorry of your experience of Catholics has been abusive or oppresive, but my experience has been very diffferent, as has millions of other Catholics.

As for other bloggers who would like me to join the 21st century, well I am in it and sorry but I'm happy following Catholic teaching. It has worked for me, my wife and kids.
16

Maximus,

Roberton 26/06/2008 16:17:23
Duncan - try this www.pureinheart.net/
17

Duncan in Edinburgh,

26/06/2008 16:45:10
#19 You sound lucky. Please excuse me if I make some assumptions here, but I imagine you to be a white, heterosexual male in a society still based around the needs of, and dominated by, white heterosexual males. And you are undoubtedly fortunate to have been born when you were, and not a few centuries earlier.

From your position, it is unsurprising that you have not run into abuse or oppression. But for many other people - women, non-white people, gay people, and especially those of a few years back - the Catholic church (and Islam, and Protestantism, and Judaism and the rest) have shown their "love" in very unpleasant ways.

It was love, perhaps, that motivated the Magdalene nuns and priests in Ireland to lock up, abuse and destroy the lives of young girls, often merely because of the actions of men toward them?

It was love, no doubt, that motivated the missionaries in Africa who decided who would live and who would die on the basis of whether or not they would convert? And those who preached the word of Leviticus to support the slave trade and the abuse and displacement of millions?

And love, naturally, continues to motivate those marginalise, lie about and undermine people whose only crime is a natural predisposition to fall in love with people of the same gender?

There is no doubt something very comforting about the idea of an all-powerful father figure who knows best in all things. You are perhaps all too willing to overlook the fact that sometimes his immutable laws need to be changed in order to move with the times (the Church no longer supports slavery, for example, nor insists on dietary or linguistic laws).

You are very lucky indeed to have landed at the top of that pile. I can recommend a bit of empathy.
18

gotalottosay,

26/06/2008 17:09:59
by women, do we mean those who are legally able to have sex i.e. all those over 16 or will there be an age bracket on who can get it. in a society where 10 year old kids are having sex, they need to be educated that it's not ok to simply slip along to boots the chemist and get a wee pill and once your are OK, you can go and have sex again and again.....
19

saneatheist,

Bixter 26/06/2008 20:54:17
Why do religions and their flocks have such an unhealthy obsession with other peoples sex and sexuality? M Robertson, why do you allow the biggest pedophile organization in the world, to preach to you about sexual behaviour? The Catholic Church should be prosecuted out of existance for the horrors it is responsible for.
20

Saoghal Beag,

26/06/2008 21:12:54
Duncan, what about the out-pouring of love by catholics, under the direction of the pontif, for the crusades, the murder of the templars, the barbaric slaughter of the Cathars, the Inquisition. At least we got a decent Monte Python sketch out of the inquisition though.

When millions starve, look how the church which owns untold wealth through its property alone, supports them with love.

Look how the catholic church has turned a blind eye to paedophhillia among its ranks, and how they have quietly sheltered the abusers and further abused the abused by filling them with guilt.

the problem with organised religion is that it stops being what it should be and hangs it existence on revenue.
21

Artemis,

26/06/2008 23:35:11
What a fuss over nothing. This is not an abortion pill. It is a morning after pill which prevents pregnancy. It does not cause abortion. The morning after pill is already available from pharmacists without a GP prescription. The only difference is that at the moment if you want to buy it without prescription, it costs £26. From now on, it will be free. With any luck, this will prevent unwanted pregnancies.

 

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