Girls of any age could get the morning-after pill free from chemists under a new scheme being considered by health chiefs in Worthing

The pill is currently available over the counter for £19.99 to women aged over 16 or is free from GPs.

But there is no legal requirement for pharmacists to undergo specific training on the drug.

Now Worthing Primary Care Group is looking at arranging training for community pharmacists.

The move means they will be able to supply the pill free to customers of all ages without having to organise an emergency appointment with a doctor.

The scheme has already been tested in the neighbouring Adur area and has met with support from the community.

Sue Elderfield, the prescribing support pharmacist for Adur PCG, said: "In January of this year, the legal status of Levonelle2, a hormonal contraceptive usually referred to as the morning-after pill, was reclassified as a pharmacy medicine, permitting sale and supply by community pharmacists.

"Using Patient Group Directions, community pharmacists have to be trained accordingly and are then able to supply Levonell2 free direct to customers of any age who require it.

"Adur PCG have been piloting this scheme since May, which has been well received by all parties.

"It is very difficult to estimate the costs for the future of this scheme. Within Adur I have estimated that the 12 participating pharmacies will jointly supply 30 patients a month, at a cost of circa £500.

"As the scheme is still new, current figures are lower than this, but I anticipate that this will change as the public become more aware of the scheme. One one day alone last month, one pharmacist supplied five women."

The cost in the Worthing area is likely to be nearer £1,000 a month.

This money will fund counselling of the customer, supplies of the drug and also pregnancy tests.

Every GP, school nurse, family planning clinic and pharmacy in the Adur area has received information about where to refer patients to and from July every pharmacist in the district has been involved.

Worthing PCG will discuss the issue at its meeting on Wednesday at The Pavilion, Field Place, from 1pm.

The scheme was attacked by the anti0-abortion Society for the Protection of Unborn Children.

A spokesman said: "If a girl or woman is prescribed morning-after pills by her general practitioner, the doctor can check her state of health and medical history for anything which might make taking such pills dangerous.

"Pharmacists cannot check medical records, they may not be able to find out about patients' medical history in other ways and they may not be able to tell if a girl is aged under 16.

"A patient's doctor will only be told that morning-after pills have been supplied to her if the patient agrees."

The spokesman added few women know when they ovulate so if they took the morning-after pill, they would not know whether it had prevented conception or caused an abortion.