Summary
This bulletin presents a summary of prescription items dispensed in the community by community pharmacists, appliance contractors and dispensing doctors in England. The bulletin highlights recent changes and the main trends between 2007 and 2017.
The specific source for these statistics is the Prescription Cost Analysis (PCA) data. NHS Digital publishes the Prescription Cost Analysis National Statistic, based on PCA figures for the most recent calendar year, in March.
Following a user consultation and through analysis of usage information and discussion with users, we have identified the user base would have its needs well met by the extra information being released earlier as tables of data, together with information around quality, rather than waiting for a second report to become available with more in depth commentary that repeats previously released figures.
This publication will be the last in the Prescriptions Dispensed in the Community series. The appendix tables will in future be released earlier as part of the PCA series together with information around quality in March each year.
Measures used in this report
Net Ingredient Cost (NIC) is the basic cost of a drug as used in primary care. This is the cost at list price excluding VAT, i.e. the price listed in the national Drug Tariff or in standard price lists and is not necessarily the price the NHS paid. It does not take into account any contract prices or discounts, dispensing costs, fees or prescription charge income, so the amount the NHS paid will be different.
Items are prescriptions written on a prescription form known as a FP10. Each single item written on the form is counted as a prescription item.
Key Facts
• This publication will be the last in the Prescriptions Dispensed in the Community series. The appendix tables will in future be released earlier as part of the PCA series together with information around quality in March each year.
• The total net ingredient cost (NIC) of prescription items dispensed in 2017 was £9,167.2 million, a decrease of 0.4 per cent (£37.6 million) on the cost in 2016.
• The total number of items dispensed in 2017 was 1,105.8 million, an increase of 0.2 per cent, (1.7 million) on the number of items dispensed in 2016.
Administrative Sources
Prescription Cost Analysis
Last edited: 27 June 2018 3:28 pm
