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Community Pharmacy West Yorkshire (CPWY) has today launched a survey which will inform its training for pharmacy technicians who are delivering or are interested in delivering the pharmacy contraception service.

CPWY said the survey will help identify “local training needs” and shape workshops to equip pharmacy technicians “with the skills, knowledge and confidence to deliver the pharmacy contraception service effectively”.

The service was expanded in 2025 to allow pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to initiate, provide routine monitoring and ongoing supply of oral contraception as well as the provision of oral emergency contraception through patient group directions (PGDs).

Changes to legislation the year before had allowed pharmacy technicians in England to supply and administer prescription-only medicines under PGDs. 

CPWY’s survey asks pharmacy technicians if they have any experience working under PGDs, how confident they are doing so, what barriers affect their confidence and what would enable them to become involved in the service.

It also asks what additional support would improve their confidence in relation to areas such as clinical assessment skills, legal accountability and access to clinical supervision.

“Pharmacies that consistently perform well do not necessarily have larger teams but make full use of the whole team to support service delivery,” CPWY said.

“Investing in the development of pharmacy technicians can strengthen operational resilience, improve patient flow and alleviate pressure on the pharmacist by enabling them to confidently support service delivery.”