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Medicines Dispensed in Primary Care (NHSBSA)

A data set containing records of medicines dispensed in primary care settings, such as general practice, community clinics, dentists and nursing services.

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Data set versions as presented in the DARS online system

Medicines dispensed in primary care (NHSBSA).

Access method

Data set available in packages

Packages are pre-defined groups of fields and or tables that allow a customer to select from a list that best meets their needs. Packages do not allow a customer to customise their field or table selection.

  • No

Period of data coverage

1 April 2018 ongoing

Geographical scope of data

England

Linkable to other data sets

  • Yes - options for linking using either pseudonymized or identifiable data

Data collection process

Submitted by: Community pharmacists, appliance contractors and dispensing doctors

Collected by: National Health Service Business Services Authority (NHS BSA)

Frequency: Monthly

Clinical coding systems

Does the data set include any standardised systems of coding?

  • dm+d (dictionary of descriptions and codes which represent medicines and devices in use across the NHS.)
Full list of coding systems considered

SNOMED-CT (a structured clinical vocabulary for use in electronic health records.)

ICD (International Classification of Diseases classifies diseases and other health conditions.)

OPCS-4 (Office of Population Census and Surveys classification of interventions and surgical procedures)

dm+d (Dictionary of descriptions and codes which represent medicines and devices in use across the NHS.)

NICIP (National Interim Clinical Imaging Procedure provides consistent recording of imaging procedures.)

UCUM (Unified Code for Units of Measure (UCUM) is a code system intended to include all units of measurement.)

TFCs (Treatment Function Codes are used to record treatment activities undertaken)

Read Code v2 (A coded thesaurus of clinical terms.)

Read Code Clinical Terms v3 (A coded thesaurus of clinical terms.)

UICC (Union for International Cancer Control classification of cancer by anatomic disease extent.)

IMD (Indices of Multiple Deprivation measures relative poverty.)

Derived fields

Standardised formulation may be applied across multiple data sets to generate commonly derived fields. Any standard derivations applicable to this data set are listed below. Please note that this does not include bespoke derivations created specifically for the individual data set.

  • LSOA_OF_RESIDENCE (The Lower Super Output Area (lowest level without being disclosive) covering the area in which the patient’s postcode falls.)
  • LSOA_OF_REGISTRATION (The Lower Super Output Area (lowest level without being disclosive) covering the area in which the patient’s GP Practice falls.)
Full list of standard derivations considered

GP_PRACTICE_CODE_TRACED (The GP Practice that the patient is registered at, as found when traced against the Person Demographic Service (PDS).)

CCG_OF_RESIDENCE (Clinical Commissioning Group covering the area in which the patient’s postcode falls where data relates to pre 1 July 2022. Otherwise ICB Sub Location.)

ICS_OF_RESIDENCE (The Integrated Care System covering the area in which the patient’s postcode falls. This will be null for any data relating to earlier than 1 July 2022.)

LA_OF_RESIDENCE (The Local Authority covering the area in which the patient’s postcode falls.)

LSOA_OF_RESIDENCE (The Lower Super Output Area (lowest level without being disclosive) covering the area in which the patient’s postcode falls.)

CCG_OF_REGISTRATION (Clinical Commissioning Group which has a commissioning relationship with the GP Practice which the patient is registered at where data relates to pre 1 July 2022. Otherwise ICB Sub Location.)

ICS_OF_REGISTRATION (The Integrated Care System covering the area in which the patient’s GP Practice falls. This will be null until for any data relating to earlier than 1 July 2022.)

LA_OF_REGISTRATION (The Local Authority covering the area in which the patient’s GP Practice falls.)

LSOA_OF_REGISTRATION (The Lower Super Output Area (lowest level without being disclosive) covering the area in which the patient’s GP Practice falls.)

Third party licensing

Does the data set require copyrighted clinical assessment tools or outcome measures that require a licence?

  • None

Advice and support

Governance of this data set is provided by:

Owning organisation: NHS Business Services Authority

Data Controller: NHS England and Department of Health and Social Care

Data Processor: NHS England

NHS England provides a variety of functions for the data sets we make available. Therefore, our knowledge and understanding of the data will vary, impacting the level of advice and support we can provide.

In relation to this data set, we undertake end to end management and can therefore provide a full advice, guidance and support service.

Supporting documentation, guidance and other resources

ARTICLE

Medicines dispensed in Primary Care NHS Business Services Authority data product

Medicines dispensed in Primary Care is a curated data product created from patient-level data about medicines dispensed and claimed for in community settings (predominantly community pharmacy) from the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA).
ARTICLE

Metadata dashboard

This dashboard provides metatdata on publicly available fields for available data sets.
ARTICLE

English Prescribing Data (NHSBSA)

This NHSBSA product contains information on prescriptions issued in England that have been dispensed in England, Wales, Scotland, Guernsey, Alderney, Jersey, and the Isle of Man.

Last edited: 31 January 2025 12:04 pm