Overcoming language barriers 

When a patient requesting oral EC speaks little or no English, ensuring informed consent and assessing treatment suitability can be challenging. Friends or partners should not act as interpreters, as this compromises confidentiality and makes safeguarding checks more difficult.  

Pharmacists should also be mindful of the cultural stigma surrounding oral EC. Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for providing translation and interpretation services for patients accessing primary care, and pharmacists can access these services (e.g. Language Line) through their ICB. Similar services are available in Scotland.  

In the absence of interpreter services, pharmacists can improve communication by using short sentences and avoiding medical jargon. With knowledge of the more common languages spoken by patients in their locality, pharmacists could consider practical tools such as multilingual cards with common questions.