The Advisory Group on Contraception (AGC) has warned that half of local authorities have cut spending on contraceptive services over the last year following the £200m reduction to the public health budget.
With specialist services appointments harder to obtain, the Primary Care Women’s Health Forum reports more demand than ever for contraceptive appointments in general practice.
Although 80% of UK women of reproductive age use contraception, around half of all UK pregnancies are still unplanned.
Helen Knox, Clinical Nurse Specialist in Contraception and Sexual Health said: ‘With over 80% of contraception provision provided by general practice, nurses are ideally placed to [offer] a wider choice of contraceptive methods which will help to reduce the large numbers of unintended pregnancies.’
