Request

You have previously provided datasets for my previous FOI requests: 01830, 01931 and 02060

It has provided us with detailed insight into patient requirements via Appliance Contractor (DAC) dispensing.

Can you kindly please provide an updated dataset with the same criteria below, for the months of June 2024 to October 2024 where available.

Dataset to include the following fields: NHS ODS Code for the Dispensing Appliance Contractor BNF Code for the product dispensed Snomed Code for the product dispensed (either AMP or AMPP Code) Year and month product dispensed (for example 202401 – for January 2024) Total items dispensed, Total Quantity Dispensed and Total NIC value for each item dispensed.

Response

June - August 2024

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.

The information you requested is available from the below links:

June 2024 - https://opendata.nhsbsa.net/dataset/foi-02143

July and August 2024 - https://opendata.nhsbsa.net/dataset/foi-02299

September 2024

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

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

HS 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.

Please note drugs flagged in our database as Schedule 2 and 3 controlled drugs have been excluded from this dataset for information security reasons to prevent the identification of organisations with high levels of controlled drug dispensing.

Time Period

September 2024

BNF CODE

The 11 characters at the beginning of a BNF code which specifies a Product (generic or branded) but not its strength or formulation.

PRODUCT_ORDER_NUMBER and PACK_ORDER_NUMBER:

If this is not held in our database then it will be blank.

SNOMED_CONCEPT_ID

SNOMED CT is an internationally recognised coding system for electronic health records, which enables information to be shared between clinical systems in an easy, secure and accurate manner. SNOMED CT contains clinical terms for all aspects of NHS activity, from procedures and symptoms, through to clinical measurements, diagnoses and medications.

VMP_VMPP_AMP_AMPP

VMP / VMPP / AMP / AMPP indicates if the row of data relates to a virtual (VMP) or actual (AMP) product. With VMP and AMP at presentation level and VMPP and AMPP being at pack level.

ITEMS

Items shows the number of times a product appears on a prescription form not the quantity prescribed.

NIC_GBP

The cost of the supplied item(s) calculated from the reimbursement price held on the NHSBSA master database. Given in Pounds Stirling.

TOTAL_QUANTITY

Total quantity is the number of items multiplied by the quantity prescribed. e.g. 2 items prescribed, one with a quantity of 2 and one with a quantity of 3, the total quantity would show as 5 (1 item x quantity of 2) + (1 item x quantity of 3)

EPD_FLAG

When this says 'EPD' the data is included in the English Prescribing dataset on our open data portal. This means the prescriptions were prescribed in England by GP practices/cost centres, dispensed in England, Jersey, Guernsey/Alderny, IOM, Wales, Scotland.

A link to the EPD https://opendata.nhsbsa.net/dataset/english-prescribing-data-epd

ACCOUNT_TYPE

Categorises the dispensing contractor according to country and type of contractor.

BNF_APPLIANCE_FLAG

Indicates if the presentation is categorised in the BNF chapters 20-23.

EPD_BNF_20_21_22

Indicates that the prescription is included in the English Prescribing dataset and the presentation is categorised in the BNF chapters 20-22.

EPD_BNF_23

Indicates that the prescription is included in the English Prescribing dataset and the presentation is categorised in the BNF chapter 23.

ENG_PRESC_BNF20_23

Indicates the prescription was prescribed in England, and the presentation is categorised in the BNF chapters 20-23. This is not limited by the type of prescribing organisation or the dispensing location.

October 2024

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 as we do not currently hold a complete processed dataset for October.

We estimate that the data for October will be available on 20 December 2024, however, please note this date could be subject to change.

You may find our data release calendar useful for future requests:

https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/data-release-calendar

Publishing this response

Please note that this information will be published on our Freedom of Information disclosure log at:

https://opendata.nhsbsa.net/dataset/foi-02381