Morning-after pills served at school

Fury as parents are kept in dark

By Guy Basnett, 04/01/2009

A NEWS of the World investigation has revealed that staggering numbers of morning-after sex pills are being dished out to young girls in secret-by their SCHOOLS.

In just one county- Oxfordshire-more than 1,000 have been given to pupils as young as 11 in lunchtime clinics aimed to cut teen pregnancies. And parents are NOT TOLD a word.

But critics slammed the practice, insisting it has FAILED to reduce birth rates and ENCOURAGES unsafe sex, FUELLING a surge in infections.

Michaela Aston, spokeswoman for pro-life charity LIFE, said: "This is a huge number of morning-after pills and completely the wrong approach.

"It's done behind the backs of parents, encouraging kids not to confide in them. And there are serious safety issues.

Shock

"This is a very strong pill designed to be taken once in a lifetime-but it's being given regularly to young girls whose bodies are still developing.

"And all the evidence so far shows it's NOT having any effect on the number of teen pregnancies."

Our investigation, using the Freeedom of Information Act, found health authorities all over Britain quietly running almost ONE THOUSAND similar morning-after sessions in schools all over Britain. That means more than ONE MILLION girl pupils have secret access to the pills in between classes.

But Oxford topped the league with 1,081 of the emergency contraceptives being given out at its confidential drop-in Bodyzone clinics over the last six years.

Local doctors are on call if needed while nurses dish out condoms, contraceptive jabs and repeat prescriptions for the standard birth Pill. Biggest shock for many parents is the secrecy involved, in stark contrast to rules which insist on parental consent before even PARACETAMOL can be given to a child with a headache.

Oxford's Bodyzone clinics launched in 1999 in just four secondary schools. In 2003 the move was extended to take in a total of 14 dotted across the rural county community.

But records show that pregnancy rates actually ROSE in each of the six years following the introduction of the scheme. And sexually transmitted infections in the county were UP 17 per cent last year.

LIFE spokeswoman Michaela Aston added: "Handing out the morning-after pill encourages young girls to have risky and inappropriate sexual encounters at an earlier and earlier age.

"They feel that whatever happens, they can turn up to school and ask the nurse for a pill.

"But it's 50 times stronger than the contraceptive mini-pill. No one knows what effect it has on young girls' bodies.".

And Norman Wells, director of campaign group Family Education Trust, said: "Research shows making the morning-after pill more readily available doesn't make the slightest difference to unintended pregnancy and abortion rates.

"In fact there's evidence it may be making matters worse. Confidential school clinics enable boys to put even more pressure on girls to have sex as Mum needn't know anything about it."

Alison Burton, Oxfordshire NHS Primary Care Trust's health improvement principal for young people, insisited they would continue the morning-after pill service in schools but added: "Young people seeking advice and support are encouraged to talk to a parent, carer or trusted adult."

Your comments

This article has 8 comments

Good move, if for teenagers. 11 year old given access to these pills? Do you know what that means? They will think it is ok to have sex or boys pressuring them to have sex, older boys, more influential boys, younger girls. If an 11 year old is given that pill and she takes it isn;t it evidence of a crime perpetrated? That she was raped perhaps? Pk, maybe not since 11 year olds can be sexually active. What about statutory rape? Then what? Is it a legal argument to lower down the consent age perhaps? Then redefine paedophiles? To all those who says so what or it's ok, IT IS NOT OK. YOU LOWER THE STANDARDS and who suffers? YOUR DAUGHTER. Remember that.

By SF. Posted January 5 2009 at 3:07 AM.

All this pill giving is not needed just simply stop all payments of money and all help to these under aged kids and the problem will sort itself out in a few years

By syd. Posted January 4 2009 at 3:45 PM.

Good. People moan because there are too many teenage parents and now they're moaning because the girls/schools are doing something about it. At least they're being sensible about it. And the law allows privacy for the girls.

But selfish parents should spend less time thinking about themselves and more time talking to and being with their children in order to avoid this from happening.

By RedLee58. Posted January 4 2009 at 10:41 AM.

I'd rather contraceptives were made widely available than have a bunch of prudes who are stuck in the dark ages about the state of play with most teenagers. I'm twenty five and have only had one partner, yet many friends and some younger family members have played the field way before they were 16 either because of pressure or because they didn't value relationships or their bodies enough to think about what they were doing. Quite a few won't and can't talk to their parents.

In principle having the contraceptive pill widely available sounds drastic but at least the ones who are doing this sort of thing can get help without prejudice or ridiculous overractions from parents who should have had the "talk" with them years ago

By Orangina. Posted January 4 2009 at 10:50 AM.

What,s the fuss about I,ll bet you that 40% of the the girls who have availed themselves of this "service" have nobody at home who gives a damn. The other 60% are glad that it,s available otherwise they would have to give birth to a child which they don,t want. So you either give it to them or be prepared for more unwed single welfare mothers living off the taxpayer for infinity. You can,t have it both ways. Let,s get real and look at the big picture.

By Scotty McBee. Posted January 4 2009 at 2:53 AM.

Shocking isn't it?

By marlyselina. Posted January 4 2009 at 1:38 AM.

The first thing you should ask yourself is whether you told your parents what you had done immediately after your first sexual experiences. If you did, great. If your kids would tell you, wonderful. But a number of young people won't have the confidence to involve their parents. That is why it's essential that they can get help and advice from health professionals.

By Simon. Posted January 4 2009 at 12:51 AM.

Contraceptive jabs for schoolkids. Is no one worried about stds and hpvs. I thought schools were meant to be learning institutions. Even third world countries have a more positive approach to preventing teen pregnancies, albeit with a fraction of the budget and social infrastructure!!! Wake up Britain.

By dean. Posted January 4 2009 at 12:31 AM.

We have to check every comment before we can allow it to be published. But don't worry, we've got a team on it 24/7 - so check back soon! Please note that we cannot publish all comments received. The editor's decision is final. Please note that your email address will not be displayed next to your comment.