The year and month for which the claim for dispensed items has been submitted to NHSBSA in the format YYYYMM.

The ODS code of the organisation which is at the level of Practice/ Cost Centre within the Prescriptions master data hierarchies.

Dispenser code is the unique identifying code attributed to a dispensing organisation.

The BNF Code is a 15-digit code in which the first seven digits are allocated according to the categories in the BNF and the last 8 digits represent the medicinal product, form, strength and the link to the generic equivalent product. NHS Prescription Services has created pseudo BNF chapters, which are not published, for items not included in BNF chapters 1 to 15. The majority of such items are dressings and appliances which NHS Prescription Services has classified into four pseudo BNF chapters (20 to 23).

The product order number as held in the NHS dictionary of medicines and devices (dm+d)

The pack order number as held in the NHS dictionary of medicines and devices (dm+d)

"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 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.

Net Ingredient cost (NIC) is the basic price of a drug as stated in Part II Clause 8 of the Drug Tariff but please note that where a price concession for items listed in Part VIII of the Drug Tariff has been agreed between the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee the NIC will reflect the concession price rather than the Drug Tariff price. NIC is given in Pounds Sterling.

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

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)

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/Alderney, IOM, Wales, Scotland.

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

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

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

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