Isle of Wight teenagers to get pill from pharmacies
A controversial scheme allowing girls as young as 13 to obtain the contraceptive pill from pharmacies is being piloted on the Isle of Wight.
Teenagers who approach a chemist for the morning-after pill will also be able to get a month's supply of the contraceptive pill without seeing a doctor or informing their parents.
Isle of Wight Primary Care Trust said it would reduce unwanted pregnancies.
However, church and campaign groups have called the move "irresponsible".
Ten of the Isle of Wight's 30 pharmacies will be able to provide a month's supply of the pill to a teenager without the need for a prescription.
After that month is up, girls must make an appointment with their GP or sexual health nurse in order to get any additional supplies.
'Vulnerable women'
Jennifer Smith, from the Isle of Wight NHS Primary Care Trust, said: "They are already sexually active, we haven't encouraged them to be sexually active.
"I would suggest that what we're doing is being entirely responsible by providing [contraception to] these most vulnerable women, for whom, for the most part, pregnancy is not a good outcome.
Rest at the source - BBC News
I firmly believe, both in my capacity as a student midwife and just as me, that women of whatever age should have access to contraceptive health. But I also think that this article is interesting for its lack of actually asking the women having children at younger ages how they feel about it. It centres firmly on the views of others, with a final tagline asking 'Are you a parent? Is this scheme a good idea?'.