A 19-year-old woman requests emergency hormonal contraception but you are not accredited to supply Levonelle 1500 via PDS. What is the most appropriate course of action?

A 19-year-old woman requests emergency hormonal contraception but you are not accredited to supply Levonelle 1500 via PDS. What is the most appropriate course of action?

• A. Refer the patient to her GP
• B. Prescribe Levonelle 1500 anyway
• C. Advise to come back later
• D. Offer a different non-prescription option

Answer: (A)

Access to emergency contraception and staying within your professional scope are the key ideas here. When a patient requests Levonelle 1500 but you aren’t accredited to supply it through the PDS, the safest, most appropriate step is to refer them to a clinician who can provide it promptly—usually their GP or a sexual health clinic. Time matters with emergency contraception, and a GP or clinic can assess eligibility, check for contraindications, and arrange immediate access if needed. This approach ensures the patient gets the correct medication in the right way without delaying care or exceeding your permitted duties. Saying to come back later or offering a different non-prescription option might introduce delays or use a route that isn’t appropriate for this specific prescription-strength product. Even if other non-prescription options exist in your area, the best course when you can’t supply the required product is to connect the patient with a service that can legally dispense it quickly.

Access to emergency contraception and staying within your professional scope are the key ideas here. When a patient requests Levonelle 1500 but you aren’t accredited to supply it through the PDS, the safest, most appropriate step is to refer them to a clinician who can provide it promptly—usually their GP or a sexual health clinic. Time matters with emergency contraception, and a GP or clinic can assess eligibility, check for contraindications, and arrange immediate access if needed.

This approach ensures the patient gets the correct medication in the right way without delaying care or exceeding your permitted duties. Saying to come back later or offering a different non-prescription option might introduce delays or use a route that isn’t appropriate for this specific prescription-strength product. Even if other non-prescription options exist in your area, the best course when you can’t supply the required product is to connect the patient with a service that can legally dispense it quickly.