Out of pill scripts? WA pharmacists can now resupply
Running out of repeats on a pill that's been working fine for years is a common, frustrating reason to chase a GP appointment. Under a Western Australian program, trained pharmacists can now resupply the contraceptive pill in defined circumstances — here's the shape of it.
Who can use it
It's for women aged 18 to 39 with a stable, proven history of taking the same combined or progestogen-only pill for at least two years. Patients aged 16 to 17 can get a shorter continuation of an existing script. If that's you and you've simply run out of repeats, we can often help.
What we check first
We run a short health review — blood pressure, your history, any new symptoms or medicines, and whether anything has changed that would make the pill less suitable. If something doesn't add up, we'll refer you back to your GP rather than continue it.
How much we can supply
Eligible patients can receive up to 12 months of their usual pill; the 16-to-17 group gets up to four months as an extension of their original prescription. This is continuation of something already working — not a first prescription.
Why it exists
It frees up GP appointments and means a working contraceptive doesn't lapse over something administrative. It sits alongside our other women's-health services, including pharmacist treatment of uncomplicated UTIs.
How to start
Give us a call or drop in and ask for the pill resupply service. We'll confirm the pharmacist on shift is trained, check you're eligible, and take it from there.