Help shape the future of local primary care health services

Lewisham Council commission a variety of services within pharmacies and GP surgeries to meet the needs of our residents. The council is currently reviewing the some services.

• LARC (Long Acting Reversible Contraception) – LARC refers to several reversible, long-acting contraceptive methods including implants and “the coil” which release hormones into the womb which reduce the chance of sperm reaching the egg. They can currently be accessed from 2 sexual health clinics and 17 GPs across Lewisham on an appointment basis.
• Condom Distribution/Come Correct (C Card) – Condoms are the only type of contraception that can both prevent pregnancy and protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Residents under 25 within the borough can access free condoms from 19 sites across Lewisham. Residents over 25 can also access free condoms, lubricating gel, pregnancy test kits and 60 second HIV tests from sexual health clinics and all GPs within Lewisham.
• EHC (Emergency Hormonal Contraception) – EHC can prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex or if the contraception you have used has failed – for example, a condom has split, or you have missed a pill. This can currently be accessed for free at 17 Pharmacies across Lewisham
• Needle Exchange – This service provides free new needles for residents who inject drugs as a harm reduction programme to prevent injury and blood borne viruses. This can currently be accessed for free at 8 Pharmacies across Lewisham
• Supervised Consumption – This service provides free methadone prescriptions to service users who are aiming to reduce or stop misusing opiates. This can currently be accessed for free at 30 Pharmacies and 8 GPs across Lewisham
• Vitamin D – Vitamin D helps to keep bones, teeth and muscles healthy. Free Vitamin D can currently be accessed if you are pregnant or if you are a parent/guardian of a child under 5 at 49 Pharmacies across Lewisham.

How you can get involved

We are holding a focus group at 12pm on 30 August at The Civic Centre, Catford in order for us to meet with residents and discuss the above services. The meeting will last approximately an hour. We would like to hear your thoughts on:

• How aware people are of these services
• What is working well with these services
• What needs improving
• What the ideal service would look like

If you would like to attend please register on the Eventbrite link below before 4pm on 29 August:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/695416107297/

The council is keen to get a range of views from residents as well as professionals working in health and care.

If you have any queries or would prefer to provide feedback on the above bullet points by email, please contact the Public Health commissioning team at publichealthcommissioning@lewisham.gov.uk

What we have done

Lewisham Council asked for views on a range of primary care health services that it commissions. These include services that aim to help and support local communities to access contraception, medication, and harm reduction interventions for drug and alcohol use.

This consultation has now closed.

An online consultation run till 7 July and a report and recommendations will be published here soon. Responses will be used to model and shape both current and future services in order to better meet the needs of all Lewisham residents.