Chamber and committees

At present it cannot be guaranteed that every woman requiring contraception is provided with information which covers all methods of contraception.

The Scottish Government is working closely with NHS Health Scotland to provide educational materials for health professionals which will enable them to give women information on all methods of contraception. The Scottish Government is also developing a social marketing campaign on long-acting reversible methods of contraception (LARC), which will include materials for women outlining all methods of contraception.

NHS boards are additionally working towards meeting the NHS Quality Improvement Standards which include a specific standard on LARC.

A range of models across Scotland provide appropriate sexual health services which link into specialist services as required.

The majority of mainland services already have or are working towards fully integrated specialist sexual health services.

It is currently too early to tell whether an increase in the uptake of long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) has had an impact on unintended pregnancy and abortion rates. There is still some way to go to increase the use of long-acting reversible methods to adequate levels within the population as recommended by NHS Quality Improvement Scotland. Uptake will however be monitored through the Key Clinical Indicators for sexual health and as part of the evaluation of the social marketing campaign to promote LARC, which will begin in spring 2009.

Yes, there is good evidence of associated significant weight gain among some, but not all, users of Depo Provera.

This information is not held centrally.

In addition to ensuring easy access to services and information, the Scottish Government is currently developing a social marketing campaign which will increase public knowledge of all sexual health matters.

In addition, there will be a specific campaign to promote the use of long-acting reversible methods of contraception among women of all ages and life-stages to reduce the levels of unintended pregnancy in all age groups.

Where an individual with Myalgic Encephalopathy is sufficiently impaired as to meet the definitions of the Disability Discrimination Act 2005, a public sector employer would be required to meet their duties under the act.

The Disability Discrimination Act 2005 introduced a public sector duty to promote equality for disabled people. This duty came into force in December 2006 and requires all public authorities to be proactive in tackling discrimination against disabled people and to look at ways of promoting equality for disabled people. Public authorities covered by the specific duties, which includes local authorities, must produce a disability equality scheme setting out the action they will take. All functions of the public body are covered by the duty, including their role as an employer.

The Scottish Centre for Healthy Working Lives can provide advice to employers on measures that they can take to ensure compliance with the Disability Discrimination Act, through its website, telephone helpline and healthy working lives advisors.

In August 2008, the Scottish Government introduced a new public health pharmacy contract which enables community pharmacists throughout Scotland to provide Emergency Hormonal Contraception and chlamydia testing.

The Scottish Government has also produced public information on all forms of contraception for community pharmacists to distribute when people access the service. This new contract and written information enables pharmacists to provide a wider range of contraceptive advice and services.

Yes, use of Depo Provera is associated with a well recognised delay in the return of fertility. It can take up to one year for fertility to return after stopping Depo Provera. Health professionals include this information in routine advice about choosing Depo Provera. No other methods of contraception are associated with a delay in the return of fertility.

It is for NHS boards to identify and address the training needs of their staff. However, in light of the NHS Quality Improvement Scotland Sexual Health Standards, we have been advised that the majority of NHS boards have increased training for health professionals, in primary care and specialist services, to fit long-acting reversible methods of contraception.