FAMILY PLANNING - TELEPHONE 02828 266163
This is the central telephone number. Appointments are offered at various clinics.
Pharmacy First Emergency Hormonal Contraception (EHC)
Pharmacy First EHC service is now being offered by 391 pharmacies across NI. An updated providers list is available on the PCI at Pharmacy Providers List – Primary Care Intranet (hscni.net)
RANDALSTOWN AND TOOME PHARMACIES ARE OFFERING THIS SERVICE
Fact Sheet - Abortion & Contraception Services in Northern Ireland
What is the legal status of abortion in Northern Ireland?
The law on abortion changed in Northern Ireland on 22 October 2019 providing for abortions to be legally carried out in a wider range of circumstances other than immediate necessity to save the woman’s life or where there is a risk of grave permanent injury to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman.
The UK Government subsequently introduced the Abortion (Northern Ireland) (No 2) Regulations 2020 which came into force on 31 March 2020. These Regulations established a framework for abortion services in Northern Ireland and set out the circumstances in which abortions may be legally carried out in Northern Ireland.
Why is the Secretary of State commissioning abortion services in Northern Ireland?
The Secretary of State has a statutory obligation to ensure that the recommendations in paragraphs 85 and 86 of the 2018 Report of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) are implemented in full.
The Secretary of State is now using his powers under the Abortion (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2022, which confer on him the power to do anything that a Northern Ireland Minister or department may do, for the purpose of implementing the CEDAW recommendations.
What abortion services are currently available in Northern Ireland?
Women and girls can access early medical abortions up to 10 weeks gestation across all Health and Social Care (HSC) Trusts. These services have been delivered, on an uncommissioned basis for some time now with some Trusts delivering services since April 2020.
In the Northern HSC Trust the early medical abortion service is available for up to 12 weeks gestation for women and girls who reside in the Northern HSC Trust area. All HSC Trusts also continue to perform abortions in cases where there is an immediate necessity to save the life of the woman, or due to risk of grave and serious (long-term or permanent) effect on her physical or mental health. This was legal in Northern Ireland prior to 2019.
What about services not currently available in Northern Ireland?
The formal commissioning of services and availability of funding means that HSC Trusts can commence recruitment, training and other necessary arrangements for the delivery of the abortion services not currently available in Northern Ireland, as soon as possible and in line with the Abortion (Northern Ireland) (No 2) Regulations 2020.
Women and girls requiring abortion care that is not currently available in Northern Ireland can continue to access UK Government funded NHS services in Great Britain without any charge.
How can a woman in Northern Ireland access abortion care?
Accessing services in Northern Ireland
Women and girls who need to access abortion services within Northern Ireland should contact the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) who provide a central access point for women living in Northern Ireland who require advice, counselling or access to abortion services. Complete a consultation form here or contact the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) on 03457 304 030.
BPAS is the only access point to abortion in Northern Ireland and all treatments are through HSC Trust clinics only. No independent clinics offer abortion in Northern Ireland.
Accessing services in Great Britain
If the pregnancy is beyond 10 weeks, (or 12 weeks for women who live in the Northern HSC Trust area), or if a woman can’t be treated in Northern Ireland, care can be accessed in Great Britain without charge. The central booking system for accessing abortion services in Great Britain without charge is provided by Marie Stopes International (MSI) Reproductive Choices and can be contacted at 0333 234 2184.
Further information on abortion in Northern Ireland can be found here www.nidirect.gov.uk/abortion-services
How can women in Northern Ireland access contraception?
As well as the provision of abortion services, the CEDAW report also recommends the accessibility and affordability of sexual health services, including safe and modern contraception. The commissioning model and service specification for abortion services in NI, recognises this need for enhanced contraception.
There are many different forms of contraception, and different methods will suit different people. Advice and contraception is available from -
• Sexual and Reproductive Health clinics provide a full range of contraception including Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC) e.g. coils and implants, which are the most effective types of contraception
• Northern - Contraceptive Services - Northern Health and Social Care Trust (hscni.net)
• Belfast – Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare Service | Belfast Health & Social Care Trust (hscni.net)
• Western – Sexual Health Services | Western Health & Social Care Trust (hscni.net) (Contraception and Sexual Health Service CASH)
• South Eastern – Sexual and Reproductive Health (Family Planning) | South Eastern HSC Trust (hscni.net)
• Southern - Sexual Health | Southern Health & Social Care Trust (hscni.net)
• SH:24 Contraception information, tools and advice | SH:24 (sh24.org.uk) – SH24 provides online access to the combined contraceptive pill (‘the pill’), the progesterone only pill (‘mini pill’) and to emergency contraception (‘the morning after pill’)
• Common Youth offer advice and contraception to young people aged under 25 Free & Confidential Sexual Health & Wellbeing Advice | Common Youth
• GP practices can prescribe contraception, with some practices providing a full range of contraceptive services.
• Emergency contraception (‘The morning after pill’) can also be accessed FREE OF CHARGE through Community Pharmacies in Northern Ireland. Community Pharmacies are commissioned to provide advice, support and if clinically appropriate emergency hormonal contraception to women who request emergency contraception under Pharmacy First.
• Progesterone only Pills are available to buy in pharmacies and online without prescription (Hana and Lovima).
Clinics & Services
In addition to GP consultations the practice adheres to the General Medical Services Contract for Provision of Healthcare Services.
Chronic Illness Management including:
- Asthma/COPD
- Coronary heart disease
- Diabetes
- Epilepsy
- Hypertension
- Stroke
- Thyroid disease
Some of the services we offer within our clinic include:
- Antenatal Care - self referral for pregnant Mum's (see link below)
- Baby and U - Your pregnancy journey - Northern Health and Social Care Trust (hscni.net) - (self referral to maternity)
- Blood pressure checks
- Blood tests
- Cervical smears
- Child health surveillance & vaccinations
- Counselling
- Dressings
- Family planning - to include insertion and removal on Implanon
- Healthy man clinic
- Health Visitor services
- INR monitoring
- Joint Injections
- Minor surgery - including cryotherapy, available after a doctor assessment.
- Smoking cessation
- Vaccinations and immunisations - including seasonal flu, shingles, whooping cough and travel.
- Well woman checks - including breast examinations and advice on HRT, menopause and sexual health.