IT’S SAFE ... SO LET WOMEN PICK UP PILL AT CHEMIST’S

HEALTH chiefs are considering making the Pill available over the counter. This makes total sense to me.

At the moment, they’re looking at the less commonly taken one, the mini-pill. It contains only one type of female hormone, progesterone – the other type contains progesterone and oestrogen.

The mini-pill is considered lowest risk of the two kinds and doesn’t require the same monitoring by a nurse or doctor. It makes sense to allow pharmacies to offer it.

Ultimately, all types of Pill could be offered by pharmacists, and lower-risk women could monitor themselves, taking their blood pressure at home, or having it taken at a local chemist. We know these medicines are very safe, and the more flexibility and control patients have, the better.