PATIENT GROUP DIRECTION (PGD) - Supply of a combined oral hormonal contraceptive (COC) by Community Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians in England - Version 3.0

Oct 6, 2026

Official Patient Group Direction (PGD) authorises named, approved pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in England to supply a combined oral hormonal contraceptive (COC) under the NHS Pharmacy Contraception Service. The document provides the PGD template for Version 3.0 with a publication reference (PRN02207) valid from 29 October 2025, includes a change history through earlier versions, and states organisational authorisations, staff characteristics, training expectations, and governance about using only the most recent signed version. It also records clinical and exclusion updates for specific formulations and scenarios.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages26

Reading Time1 h 6 min

AccessFree to download

Change history

Version 3.0 (20 June 2025)

Publication reference and validity

PGD development group and authorisations

Organisational authorisations

Characteristics of staff

Classification: Official PATIENT GROUP DIRECTION (PGD) Supply of a combined oral hormonal contraceptive (COC) by Community Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians in England working in a pharmacy registered to provide the NHS Pharmacy Contraception Service Version 3.0 | Change History | | | --- | --- | | Version and
Date | Change details | | Version 1 1 April 2023 | PGD approved | | Version 1.1 27 April 2023 | Exclusion added relating to Zoely® only | | Version 2.0
1 December 2023 | Update to include initiation of oral contraception.
and
Updated PGD development group members.
Statement added in exclusion criteria regarding consideration of lactose/sucrose content in individual products. | | Version 3.0 20 June 2025 | Included pharmacy technicians as an additional professional group.
Updated Short Life Working Group members.
Statement added in exclusion criteria regarding consideration of lactose/sucrose content in individual products.
Clarified statement on management of people using 30mcgEE/LNG combination who have missed two pills in week one of cycle in dose and frequency section.
Added statement on advice when used in combination with GLP-1 agonists. Clarified statement on Qlaira.
Clarification of quantity to be supplied for ongoing supplies | 1 Publication reference: PRN02207 Valid from: 29 October 2025 | | Added statement on depressed mood and depression in written information and further advice to be given to individual.
Added statement on advice on desogestrel and risk of meningioma.
Updated references.
Update to amend Annex B | | --- | --- | | |
Updated to reflect change of status from Faculty of Sexual Reproductive Healthcare to | | | College of Sexual Reproductive Healthcare
Contraindication with interacting Hep C medicines added | This Patient Group Direction (PGD) must only be used by pharmacists and pharmacy technicians who have been named and authorised by their organisation to practise under it (See Appendix A) . The most recent and in date final signed version of the PGD must be used. PGD DEVELOPMENT GROUP | Date PGD template comes into effect: | 29 October 2025 | | --- | --- | | Review date | September 2028 | | Expiry date: | 28 February 2029 | This PGD template has been peer reviewed by the Reproductive Health PGDs Short Life Working Group in accordance with their Terms of Reference. It was approved by the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (FSRH) in November 2022. The Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (FSRH) has now changed its name to the College of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (CoSRH) . Some pages and documents will continue to display the FSRH name. Where you see FSRH, this refers to CoSRH. 2 Publication reference: PRN02207 Valid from: 29 October 2025 | Name | Designation | | --- | --- | | Dr Cindy Farmer | Vice President, General Training
College of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (CoSRH) | | Michelle Jenkins | Advanced Nurse Practitioner, Clinical Standards Committee
College of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (CoSRH) | | Vicky Garner | Deputy Chief Midwife British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) | | Gail Rowley | Quality Matron British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) | | Katie Girling | British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) | | Julia Hogan | CASH Nurse Consultant MSI Reproductive Choices | | Kate Devonport | National Unplanned Pregnancy Advisory Service (NUPAS) | | Chetna Parmar | Pharmacist adviser Umbrella | | Helen Donovan | Royal College of Nursing (RCN) | | Carmel Lloyd | Royal College of Midwives (RCM) | | Clare Livingstone | Royal College of Midwives (RCM) | | Kirsty Armstrong | National Pharmacy Integration Lead, NHS England | | Dipti Patel | Local authority pharmacist | | Emma Anderson | Centre for Pharmacy Postgraduate Education (CPPE) | | Dr Sarah Pillai | Associate Specialist | | Alison Crompton | Community pharmacist | | Andrea Smith | Community pharmacist | | Lisa

FAQs

Who is allowed to use this Patient Group Direction (PGD)?

Only pharmacists and pharmacy technicians named and authorised by their organisation to practise under this PGD may use it, and the most recent signed version must be used.

What is the validity period for this PGD template version?

The publication reference PRN02207 is valid from 29 October 2025, with a review date of September 2028 and an expiry date of 28 February 2029.

What professionals are included under Version 3.0?

Version 3.0 explicitly includes pharmacy technicians as an additional professional group alongside community pharmacists.

Oct 6, 2026

Uploaded by River Wang