Request

You asked us:

I would like to request the dataset by month from 1st January 2023 to the most recent month available for dispensed prescription data for dispensing appliance contractors only. The following inclusions are required:

• Dispensing appliance contractor name
• Dispensing appliance contractor code
• Prescribing GP Practise name, address and ICB
• Month/year
• BNF code
• BNF chemical substance
• SNOMED code
• Quantity
• NIC value

We are aware of similar requests and data supplied via the FOI log, however we would also like the inclusion of SNOMED codes to this data.

The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) received your request on 20 August 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. 

Due to the size of the data files requested, we are unable to provide them directly via email or attachment. However, the information is publicly available and can be accessed through the NHS Business Services Authority (BSA) Open Data Portal at the following link:

https://opendata.nhsbsa.net/dataset/foi-03102

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 is the NHSBSA Information Services Data Warehouse.

Time Period

The data includes items dispensed between January 20203 and June 2025 inclusive. At the time of production, the most recently available data was for June 2025 dispensing.

Dispensing Organisation

Data is limited to dispensing activity undertaken by Dispensing Appliance Contractors.

Prescribing Organisation

Limited to items prescribed in England, in any setting is included, where dispensed by a Dispensing Appliance Contractor.

Products

No restrictions have been placed on dispensed products.

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.
• Items prescribed on paper forms (this request includes EPS activity only)

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-03102

Your personal details will be removed from the published response.

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.