Thank you for your request for information about the following:

Request

You asked us:

In a previous FOI response (https://opendata.nhsbsa.net/dataset/foi-29912) you supplied a series of tables relating to the number of prescriptions issued for antidepressant medicine (BNF 4.3) and painkillers (BNF 4.7)

1. How many prescriptions were issued in each of the last five years (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020).
   
2. For 2020 could you also break the figures for prescriptions down into ten year age bands (i) 0-9, (ii) 10-19, (iii) 20-29, (iv) 30-39)………….to 100 and above.
   
3. Could you please state the age of the oldest person who was prescribed such a drug?
   
4. In relation to the drugs prescribed in 2020 could you please state how many prescriptions, and the cost was for each of the chemicals within that section.
   
5. In relation to the 2020 calendar year please state for each CCG [now ICBs]:
   (i) how many prescriptions were made, (ii) the cost of these prescriptions and (iii) the number of patients in this CCG [now ICBs].

The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) received your request on 19 November 2025.

We have handled your request under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 2000.

Our response

Question 3

I can confirm the NHSBSA holds the information required to answer this part of your request, however, please be aware that I have decided not to release these figures as the total number of patients falls below 5. This is because the patients could be identified, when combined with other information that may be in the public domain or reasonably available. This information falls under the exemption in section 40 subsections 2 and 3A (a) of the Freedom of Information Act. This is because it would breach the first data protection principle as:

a. It is not fair to disclose patients’ personal details to the world and is likely to cause damage or distress.

b. These details are not of sufficient interest to the public to warrant an intrusion into the privacy of the patients.

Remaining Questions

I can confirm that the NHSBSA holds the information you have requested is attached.

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

The data source was the NHSBSA Data Warehouse.

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

Prescribing limited to England.

Limited to drugs prescribed in the BNF Sections 0403 - Antidepressant drugs and BNF Section 0407 - Analgesics. Please note that the BNF section does not guarantee the clinical indication.

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

Age Band is based on the age of the patient as captured during NHSBSA processing for reimbursement. Patients may appear in more than one age band if they have prescribing in more than one.

The age cannot be captured from all prescription forms and these patients are recorded as in the age band "Unknown".

Patient Count is based on a distinct count of NHS number as captured from the prescription. Where patients could not be identified, the patient count will be recorded as 'Unknown'.

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

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 VIIIA 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.

List Size for the year is calculated as the average of the 12 monthly list sizes.

A list size for a SICBL is based on sum of the list sizes of the GP practices within that SICBL.

Note that a zero list size implies that the particular CCG was closed for the time period, but there has been some prescribing claimed for by a pharmacy after the SICBL had closed.

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.