HEALTH bosses have defended plans to provide girls as young as 13 with free morning-after pills from pharmacies over the festive season.
The Family Education Trust, a lobby group which campaigns for traditional family units, described North Tyneside Primary Care Trust's (PCT) plans as "undermining the law on the age of consent".
Norman Wells, director of the family trust, said the scheme was "sending out the message that there is nothing wrong with underage sex".
The comments followed the trust's announcement that a scheme known as "Plan B" was being promoted in North Tyneside over Christmas and New Year. The PCT has linked up with local pharmacies to provide the morning-after pill.
The pill, which can be taken up to 72 hours after unprotected sex, will be given after a short, confidential consultation.
Professor Vivien Hollyoak, North Tyneside director of public health, said: "The reality is that some young people are having sex and sometimes this is unprotected sex which means that they are at risk of an unplanned pregnancy or a sexually-transmitted disease."
She stressed that the scheme was for emergencies only.
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