getting birth control in england
 

again this might be a silly or stupid question but I am moving to Norwich from the US and would like to know what I will have to do to be able to get the Depo birth control shot or if I will even be able to get it be able to get it being as I am a foreigner. If anyone can tell me I would appreciate it. Thanks very much.

As a resident, you can register with a local NHS GP and then can have your jab free of charge. In emergency, you can get morning-after pill from a chemist without prescription, from a NHS walk-in centre or family planning clinic.

That was really the question I was going to ask -- if you're moving there legally, should should be able to get on the national health system, get a card, and go to your local clinic. Now my comments are hopelessly out of date, but I was amazed when I first moved to England in 1982 and although there was a minor cost for prescriptions (80 pence at the time, which locals thought was outrageous!), birth control (all forms) were FREE. Based on Alec's comments, sounds like the FREE part is still true!

Birth control pills or jabs are free, when prescribed by GP or given by family planning clinic. OTC pills are payable.
For other medication, prescribed medicine now costs £7.20 an item (a big jump from 80p!) Sometimes it's cheaper to pay for it yourself - ask chemist (pharmacist), or if you need frequent medication, you can get a pre-payment certificate for around £105 a year for unlimited prescriptions.

But, in case it's not otherwise clear, you can't get birth control (except condoms) except on prescription.

Except emergency morning-after pills from chemists, Levonelle for £22. Not every pharmacy provides this service, but most do. If you get them from your GP or clinic, they are of course free.

hi ryuk,

another option, if for some reason you can't register under the NHS, is to go privately to a GP and pay for the service. it's unusual, but some GPs still have a few private patients.

regards, ann

Register with a doctor and ask for the jab.

Or go to a family planning clinic.

They will probably take a medical history, record your BP and ask you to book in for a smear.

for family planning clinics put your post code (or one of somewhere near where you will live if you don't have yours yet) and it will tell you your nearest clinic.

http://www.fpa.org.uk/Findaclinic