A free same day delivery service for the morning after pill has been launched in Manchester for the very first time.
Available from now until Friday 30 September, it gives people the option to order emergency contraceptives to their home rather than going to a pharmacy, GUM clinic or GP surgery.
Delivering between 6-9pm in the week, packages will come straight to your door via discreet bike courier service.
Orders must be placed online before 5pm to qualify, then your free same day delivery will be confirmed separately via WhatsApp.
Rider Lucy will deliver your package between 6-9pm. / Image: The Lowdown
Free delivery will be available to postcodes M1, M2, M3, M4, M12, M13, M14, M15, M16, M21 and M20 during the week only.
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The service has been introduced by The Lowdown, a contraception review, advice and prescriptions platform trying to make women’s health “less of a minefield”.
According to Founder Alice Pelton, one third of women in the UK don’t currently have easy or convenient access to contraception.
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Inspired by her own experiences of struggling to find the right one, she launched The Lowdown in 2019 and has spent the last five years talking to thousands about the problem.
The Lowdown is a one-stop shop for people to choose, access and use the right contraception and reproductive healthcare for them, but it is not free at the point of use.
However, it offers the full range of brands of pill whereas on the NHS choice is more limited.
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On the website, a Levonorgestrel emergency contraceptive is priced at £9.50 and an EllaOne pill is £27. In total there are a choice of four morning after pills – Levonorgestrel, EllaOne, Ezinelle and Levonelle OneStep – whilst on the NHS you can get both Levonelle and ellaOne free of charge
Speaking on the Manchester trial, Alice Pelton, Founder of The Lowdown, said: “The Lowdown is all about making contraception less complicated, and this pilot is part of our bold plans to put control into the hands of women and people with vaginas.
“There’s so much unnecessary stigma around emergency contraception, and it’s too difficult for many women and their partners to access it quickly and conveniently. These medications are incredibly safe and effective, and getting hold of them should not need to involve travelling long distances or having an awkward public conversation with a pharmacist.”
Dr Melanie Davis-Hall, GP and Medical Director at The Lowdown, added: “Despite living in the 21st century there are still significant barriers to accessing contraception. And young people embarking on their university career may have even more difficulty accessing emergency contraception in an unfamiliar city at a vulnerable time of their life where many start having more sex!
The Lowdown hopes to destigmatise the issue of emergency contraception by making it more widely available to people who need it.
Its website is visited by 70,000 people a month, with all orders reviewed and approved by The Lowdown’s pharmacy team before dispatch.
Whilst you don’t need to speak to a medical professional before placing an order, you will be required to fill out a short questionnaire online to help the team identify which contraceptive will best suit your needs.
Sharing the news of the morning after pill same day delivery on its Instagram page, The Lowdon described the move as “Just Eat but for contraception”.
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It wrote: “BIG NEWS
“We’ve just launched a same day delivery of the morning after pill if you live in Manchester for the rest of September!
“Just make sure you order before 5pm on weekdays and double check your postcode is eligible (central Manchester postcodes please!).
“We will deliver your morning after pill straight to your door the very same day from 6-9pm.”
Medlock Square: Manchester’s new £300 million entertainment destination on the Etihad Campus
Danny Jones
Manchester’s newest entertainment destination, located over at the ever-growing Etihad Campus, has finally been given a name ahead of its launch later this year.
Alongside the recently announced and Radisson-run hotel, Medlock Square will see the Manchester City-partnered mini leisure district aim to become a new must-visit part of the city.
Hoping to draw in crowds beyond just matchdays and those heading to concerts across the way, approximately £300 million is being pumped into the project.
With Co-op Live having already brought huge revenues into Greater Manchester, it isn’t just set to be a pricey development, but one that will look to serve as yet another money spinner for the wider City Football Group (CFG) and the City Region.
Credit: CFG (supplied)
Unveiling the first CGIs of the square this week, this new area will essentially see attractions and activities spill out of the Etihad Stadium, Co-op Live and the soon-to-open Medlock hotel and on to the campus as a whole.
With other parts of Sportcity already revolving around the footballing epicentre, such as the Manchester Regional Arena and National Squash Centre, this will not only see even more sporting events and supporters brought to the roughly 80-acre plot, but also fans of various other forms of entertainment.
For instance, within the plans that already include the food and drink offerings you would expect – with Radisson Blu backing more of the relaxation and indulgent side of things – other activities include everything from “an adrenaline-fuelled sky walk experience”, as well as zip-wire and abseiling.
We already knew about some of these from the details in Man City’s stadium expansion plans (including the likes of The Medlock and rooftop bar), and glimpses of the impending hotel opening gave us a better idea of the overall look, but there looks to be plenty more in the pipeline.
You can see a trailer for what they have in mind for Medlock Square down below.
Welcome to Medlock Square. Manchester’s newest entertainment destination. A place where mouthwatering cuisine and world class entertainment, experiences and events converge. Coming soon! pic.twitter.com/4bC7NQbMHT
As per an official press release by the fledgling team, more information on further business and employment opportunities has also now been confirmed, centring around the new ‘One Medlock Square’ structure that will be built on the campus.
“Designed to accommodate up to 300 employees, the state-of-the-art workspace will offer high-quality, modern office facilities alongside access to shared event spaces and wellness amenities, uniquely positioned within Manchester’s most exciting new destination”, the statement reads.
There’s certainly some ambitious stuff in the works, put it that way.
And, of course, these will also slot into a renovated club shop turned meagstore, an all-new Man City museum, the Co-op arena, live music and other open-air events, just to name a few. A specific opening date is yet to be scheduled, but you can guarantee it’ll be a big deal when it does launch.
Featured Images — Publicity pictures (supplied via City Football Group)
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Staff at four Greater Manchester hospitals to start wearing body-worn cameras after rise ‘abusive behaviour’
Emily Sergeant
Frontline staff at four hospitals in Greater Manchester are set to start wearing body-worn cameras on their shifts.
In a move designed to protect and keep frontline healthcare colleagues safe following a noticeable rise in ‘abusive behaviour’ directed towards them, Northern Care Alliance has announced that it has made the decision to introduce body-worn cameras across all four of our hospitals in Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, and Salford.
It’s hoped that these small cameras will help create an overall ‘safer environment’ for staff and visitors, and also allow the NHS to use the footage as evidence in any criminal or civil court action.
— Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust (NCA) (@NCAlliance_NHS) March 4, 2026
They will be worn by all designated clinical staff with the aim of reducing violent incidents of threatening behaviour for both staff and other patients.
So, how will they work?
The Northern Care Alliance has explained that the cameras are only activated when a worker feels threatened and only after informing the individual involved. Once switched on, they record both video and audio, creating a clear, unbiased account of what happened. This footage can be used to support investigations and deter future incidents.
Staff at four Greater Manchester hospitals are to start wearing body-worn cameras after a rise ‘abusive behaviour’ / Credit: Pxhere
“As a team working on the frontline of emergency care, we have welcomed the introduction of body‑worn cameras as an important step in protecting both our staff and our patients,” commented Julie Newton, who is the lead nurse in the Emergency Department at Fairfield General Hospital.
“Unfortunately, incidents of violence and aggression do occur, and these devices provide an objective record that helps ensure situations are managed safely and appropriately.
“Knowing that footage can support investigations and, where necessary, prosecution gives our colleagues greater confidence and reassurance.
“Most importantly, the cameras help us create a safer, more respectful environment so we can focus on delivering the best possible care to those who need us.”
Georgina Pellant -
22nd September 2022 
