Emergency department post-coital contraception in Northern Ireland.
BACKGROUND
The granting of a licence to Levonelle as an emergency hormonal contraceptive in the Republic of Ireland may require accident and emergency (A&E) departments to formally provide such a service. This article outlines the experiences of a Northern Ireland A&E unit.


OBJECTIVE
To examine the pattern of attendance of patients requesting emergency contraception at an A&E department and to assess if adequate standards of care are achieved.


METHODS
Retrospective case note review of 100 patients attending the A&E department requesting emergency contraception.


RESULTS
Sixty-one per cent of requests for emergency contraception were outside normal pharmacy opening hours. Seventy-seven per cent of these patients were less than 26 years old. Most (63%) attended within 24 hours of unprotected sexual intercourse. Forty-three per cent of the patients studied had used no contraception prior to this request. Recording of menstrual details and sexual behaviour as part of the consultation was variable.


CONCLUSIONS
A&E departments receive requests for emergency hormonal contraception particularly from younger women (<25 years). A&E staff must have appropriate training and support to manage these consultations effectively.
Mawhinney
S
S
Antrim Area Hospital, Northern Ireland. sandramawhinney@dsl.pipex.com
Dornan
O
O
Ashe
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003281:Contraceptives, Postcoital / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000600:supply & distribution; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016912:Levonorgestrel / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000600:supply & distribution; D008009:Licensure, Pharmacy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009660:Northern Ireland; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D047568:Unsafe Sex
D003281:Contraceptives, Postcoital; D016912:Levonorgestrel