Request

You asked us:

I would like to make a new request under Freedom of Information with the same format, inclusions, groupings and caveats as a previous request FOI-02623 (https://opendata.nhsbsa.net/dataset/foi-02623) and I would like the data to cover the period from January 25 to March 25.

Original Request

I would like to make a request for an extract similar to the one requested in 21278. I would like to request total items, total quantity and total Net Ingredient cost for each BNFID reimbursed by NHSBSA for each of the last 24 months (each month separately please) ending December 2021. I require the totals to be presented at BNFID level, divided into the standard 5 year age bandings and further separated by patient gender. Ideally this will include include all items dispensed in England, whether prescribed in the community (FP10) or in secondary care (FP10H). However if this is unfeasible then FP10 will suffice. If the data for 24 months is unfeasible then the 12 months Jan-Dec 2021 will suffice.

The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) received your request on 27 May 2025.

We have handled your request under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 2000.

Our response

I can confirm that the NHSBSA holds the information you have requested and a copy of the information and notes explaining it is attached.

Please read the below notes to ensure correct understanding of the data.

NHS Prescription Services process prescriptions for Pharmacy Contractors, Appliance Contractors, Dispensing Doctors and Personal Administration with information then used to make payments to pharmacists and appliance contractors in England for prescriptions dispensed in primary care settings (other arrangements are in place for making payments to Dispensing Doctors and Personal Administration).

This involves processing over 1 billion prescription items and payments totalling over £9 billion each year. The information gathered from this process is then used to provide information on costs and trends in prescribing in England and Wales to over 25,000 registered NHS and Department of Health and Social Care users.

Data Source

The data source was the NHSBSA Information Services Data Warehouse.

Exclusions

The Data excludes:

• Items not dispensed, disallowed and those returned to the contractor for further clarification.

• Prescriptions prescribed and dispensed in Prisons, Hospitals and Private prescriptions.

• Items prescribed but not presented for dispensing or not submitted to NHS Prescription Services by the dispenser.

Time Period

March 2025 inclusive.

Prescribing

The data provided is for prescriptions dispensed and prescribed in England. Prescribing has been split by Sub ICB Locations (SICBLs) and limited to prescribing within SICBLs.

Suppressions

Suppressions have been applied where items are lower than 5, for items and NIC and quantity where the product or combination of product and quantity are identified in our list of sensitive medicines.

January and February 2025

We have considered this request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA 2000).

The NHSBSA does hold the requested information; however, the information you requested is available at the following web link:

January 2025: https://opendata.nhsbsa.net/dataset/foi-02688
February 2025: https://opendata.nhsbsa.net/dataset/foi-02780

We’re giving you this link because the information you have requested has already been published and is therefore available in the public domain. Under Section 21 of the FOIA we are not required to provide information in response to a request if it is already reasonably accessible to you.

Please see the following link to view the section 21 in full - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/36/section/21

Data Queries

Please contact foirequests@nhsbsa.nhs.uk ensuring you quote the above reference if you have any specific questions regarding this response; or, if you feel you may be misunderstanding or misinterpreting the information; or, if you plan on publishing the data. Reusing the data and copyright

If you plan on producing a press or broadcast story based upon the data please contact communicationsteam@nhsbsa.nhs.uk. This is important to ensure that the figures are not misunderstood or misrepresented.

The information supplied to you continues to be protected by the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 and is subject to NHSBSA copyright. This information is licenced under the terms of the Open Government Licence detailed at:

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

Should you wish to re-use the information you must include the following statement: “Data Warehouse, NHSBSA Copyright 2025”. Failure to do so is a breach of the terms of the licence.

Information you receive which is not subject to NHSBSA Copyright continues to be protected by the copyright of the person, or organisation, from which the information originated. Please obtain their permission before reproducing any third party (non NHSBSA Copyright) information.