More than 1,000 girls aged 11 and 12 have been prescribed the pill by their GPs, while a further 200 girls between 11 and 13 have been given long-term injections and implanted contraceptive devices, the Telegraph reports this morning. The majority of the prescriptions are usually issued to girls without the consent of their parents. Doctors may prescribe the pill to such girls, even though the age of consent is 16.
The figures come from the General Practice research database, which collects prescribing information from 500 GPs practices covering a sample of four million people.
The database also shows that at least 58,000 15-year-olds were on the pill last year, more than double the figure of 23,000 prescribed it in 1999.
The figures have led to accusations that in the UK the sexualisation of young people was being facilitated at an ever younger age. However, Dr Steve Field, chairman of the Royal College of General Practitioners, said doctors would only prescribe the pill to such young girls if they thought it was the best way forward.
"Every doctor would have a proper conversation with the girl," he said.
