Request

I would like to make an FOI request concerning a summary of spend by ICB code on certain medical devices issued through prescriptions.

Please can you confirm the following for the calendar year 2024, broken down by ICB code:

• The total cost of appliances charged under the following BNF chapter codes:

o BNF Chapter 20: Dressings

o BNF Chapter 21: Appliances

o BNF Chapter 22: Incontinence appliances

o BNF Chapter 23: Stoma appliances

• The total number of prescriptions processed for each of these BNF chapter codes

• The total prescription dispensing charge

On the 6 May 2025 you clarified the following:

We are interested in the dispensing fees (remuneration) in the drug tariff.

Response

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.

Data Source

The data source was the NHSBSA Data Warehouse.

Time Period

The time period covered is January 2024 to December 2024 reported as a calendar year.

Appliance/Dressing Prescribing

Limited to prescribing and dispensing in England.

Limited to appliances/dressings prescribed in the pseudo BNF chapters 20, 21, 22 and 23

Results are limited to items that have been reimbursed by the NHSBSA, omitting any items flagged as "Not Dispensed (ND)", "Returned Back (RB)" or "Disallowed (DA)"

All fees and costs are displayed in GBP (£)

More information on fees can be found in the Drug Tariff:

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

Information on fees for GPs can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/general-medical-services-statement-of-financial-entitlements-directions

Dispensing fees for dispensing doctors and personally administered items are only an estimate and not paid by NHSBSA. For information on how payments work for these dispensers, please see the below web link:

https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/pharmacies-gp-practices-and-appliance-contractors/payments-and-pricing/dispensing-doctor-and-personal-administration-payments

Full definitions of calculations and fees can be found in the data dictionary.

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.