A woman in the UK has been left outraged after she was refused the ‘morning after pill’ from her local pharmacist, because it was a Sunday.

Siani, 41, from Brighton UK, visited her local chemist on a Sunday morning to fetch the emergency contraception only to be refused by the female member of staff due to ‘personal reasons.’

“I rang up from my car before going in to check that it was ready and the woman who answered told me that she will not dispense this type of product for ‘personal reasons’,” Siani told Metro.

“Honestly, it was the world’s largest eye roll.”

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The pharmacist advised her to either come back the next day, on the Monday, or head to the next closest pharmacy – 16 kilometres away.

The pharmacy that Siani visited was right in the middle of a student area, and the reaction of the female pharmacist reminded her of the shame that many thrust upon younger women.

“I can handle this, I’m not embarrassed. I’m old and stroppy enough to make a fuss, but what if I was a teenager?” said Siani adding, “I just can’t believe that we don’t have a system in place to protect women’s access.”

The mother of one slammed the pharmacy chain for allowing their employees to treat women who are in need of a pharmaceutical service this way, especially after she had already ordered it online and paid for it.

Metro contacted the pharmacy chain for comment, in which they apologised for the “distress and frustration caused by the experience” however, stuck by their employee by citing their guidelines.

“[GPhC guidelines] allow pharmacists to refuse to dispense medication that goes against their personal beliefs if there is adequate alternative care available for the patient,” a representative for the company told Metro.

“As part of our own guidance, we encourage our pharmacists to use their professional judgement, but they must always put the patient first.”

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Siani also shared her story on Facebook, with many other women sharing their stories, and pharmacists agreeing to the sad truth.

“A friend told me about spending all day going from one pharmacy to another and being told no when she was a teenager,” Siani said.

“It’s absolutely horrifying to me.”

The same rules unfortunately apply in Australia, although you are allowed to ask a pharmacist for emergency contraception within 72 hours of having intercourse – no matter what your age – you may be refused due to a pharmacist’s personal beliefs. However, this does not mean you do not have a right to or should not take the medication, they must instead recommend another pharmacy who will be able to help you and supply the pharmaceutical.

For more information, please head to the royal women’s hospital website.

If you or anyone you know needs immediate support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or via

lifeline.org.au. In an emergency, call 000.