Thank you for your request for information about the following:

I have checked the FOI logs and published data and can't see the information I require so I think this needs to be a new request.

You may not collect this information but I would like information over a suitable period of time year or two to latest data broken down by month of Private prescribing by ICB or Sub ICB location at least, if possible practice level or private provider level for only BNF Paragraphs 604011, 604012 and 60402 . data could be in a format like

YEARMonth, ICB Code, Sub_ICB, Practice code/private prescriber (if possible), BNF Code, Prescription Items, Quantity.

If it’s a big dataset then please break it down monthly

I would say 2021, 2022 and 2023 ytd would be ok

If Pharmacy’s don’t return prescriptions to you I’m not sure if this data would be collated in another way for reporting? Anyway, best advice would be appreciated.

Your request was received on 23 May 2023 and I am dealing with it under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Response

I am writing to advise you that following a search of our paper and electronic records, I have established that the information you requested is not held by the NHS Business Services Authority.

Contractors are required to send us the private prescriptions for controlled drugs in schedule 2 and 3 only, as per the drug tariff:

https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/pharmacies-gp-practices-and-appliance-contractors/drug-tariff

The requested BNF paragraphs do not have any schedule 2 or 3 controlled drugs in them, so contractors are not required to submit those prescriptions to us.

Data Queries

If you have any queries regarding the data provided, or if you plan on publishing the data please contact nhsbsa.foirequests@nhs.net ensuring you quote the above reference. This is important to ensure that the figures are not misunderstood or misrepresented.

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Should you wish to re-use the information you must include the following statement: “NHSBSA Copyright 2023” This information is licenced under the terms of the Open Government Licence:

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

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