Official figures compiled by the Government's Health & Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) show that 5,400 girls under 16 were given the contraceptive implant during a 12 month period. 1,800 girls aged 14 or under were also provided with the implant, free of charge.
The contraceptive implant is a tube about 40mm long that is inserted under the skin of the upper arm, that releases progestogen to stop the release of an egg from the ovary. It lasts for three years.
CARE's CEO Nola Leach said the policy of providing contraceptives implants and injections on the NHS to underage girls without parental permission is "extremely alarming"
Mrs Leach said the policy "completely undermines the point of having an age of consent".
Speaking on Premier's News Hour, Jamie Cutteridge, Deputy Editor of Premier Youthwork Magazine suggested it wasn't all bad news as it showed young people are making thoughtful decisions.
He said: "These things aren't just handed out in the streets to young people, they have to make an active decision to seek this out.
"Clearly, what we're seeing is that loads of young girls have made an active decision. Yes they're going to be sexually active but also they want to be sexually healthy and they want to do that in the safest way possible."
Listen to James Mildred from CARE and Jamie Cutteridge on Premier's News Hour with Marcus Jones:
