Additional Info

Field Value
Data last updated 16 January 2026
Metadata last updated 16 January 2026
Created 16 January 2026
Format text/csv
Licence Open Government Licence 3.0 (United Kingdom)

Data Dictionary

Column Title Type Description
YEAR_MONTH Year and Month string The year and month for which the claim for dispensed items has been submitted to NHSBSA in the format YYYYMM.
REGIONAL_OFFICE_NAME Region Code string Region code is the unique identifying code attributed to a region in England.
REGIONAL_OFFICE_CODE Region Name string The name of the region in England.
ICB_NAME ICB Name string The name of the Integrated Care Board (ICB).
ICB_CODE ICB Code string ICB code is the unique identifying code attributed to an Integrated Care Board (ICB).
PCO_NAME Commissioner / Provider string The name of the Commissioner / Provider
PCO_CODE Commissioner / Provider Code string Commissioner / Provider code is the unique identifying code attributed to a Commissioner / Provider.
PRACTICE_NAME Practice Name string The name of the organisation which is at the level of Practice/ Cost Centre within the Prescriptions master data hierarchies.
PRACTICE_CODE Practice Code string The ODS code of the organisation which is at the level of Practice/ Cost Centre within the Prescriptions master data hierarchies.
FULL_ADDRESS Prescriber Organisation Full Address string The address of the prescribing organisation.
POSTCODE Prescriber Organisation Postcode string The postcode of the prescribing organisation.
BNF_CHEMICAL_SUBSTANCE_CODE BNF Chemical Substance Code string The first nine digits of the 15-digit BNF Code, which indicate the chemical substance under which the drug or appliance is categorised.
BNF_CHEMICAL_SUBSTANCE BNF Chemical Substance string This is the International Non-proprietary Name (INN) and is the standard registered name for the active constituent of that medicine, for example omeprazole. For compounds the name may be more complex, such as co-magaldrox magnesium/aluminium hydrox). In some cases the name is a collective one for a range of medicines, such as alginic acid compound preparations. For prescriptions in BNF chapters 19 to 23, there is no "chemical" name, as these are dressings and appliances. Therefore, these items are reported under the BNF section name, for example, night drainage bags.
BNF_PRESENTATION_CODE BNF Code string 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).
BNF_PRESENTATION_NAME BNF Presentation Description string The individual preparation name of the drug, which may be proprietary or generic, followed by strength and form.
BNF_CHAPTER_PLUS_CODE BNF Chapter plus Code string The first two digits of the 15-digit BNF Code, which indicate the chapter of the BNF where the drug is categorised, and the name of the BNF chapter where the drug is categorised
QUANTITY Quantity number 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)
ITEMS Items number Items shows the number of times a product appears on a prescription form not the quantity prescribed.
TOTAL_QUANTITY Total Quantity number 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)
ADQ_USAGE Average Daily Quantity (ADQ) Usage number Average Daily Quantity (ADQ) is the typical daily dose of a medication, prescribed to adult patients by GP Practices
NIC Net Ingredient Cost (NIC (£)) number 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.
ACTUAL_COST Actual Cost in GBP (£) number The actual cost is the Net Ingredient Cost of the item(s) supplied, less the National Average Discount Percentage (NADP) plus Payment for Consumables, Out of Pocket Expenses and Payment for Containers.
UNIDENTIFIED Unidentified practice string "Y/N field indicating if a practice could be identified from the prescription. This happens if the NHSBSA is sent a prescription form that has incomplete or missing information about the practice. In the dataset that information is marked with ‘Unidentified Doctors’ as the Practice Name. These cases typically account for less than 0.1% of all prescribed items. Unidentified Doctors data can be put in two groups: 1. where the Sub-ICB can be identified; these are shown with a Practice Code and Address relating to the Sub-ICB, and will hold values for Sub-ICB, ICB and Region; and 2. where the Sub-ICB cannot be identified. These are shown with no Practice Code or Address, and all other organisation levels will be marked as ‘Unidentified’"
SNOMED_CODE SNOMED Concept ID string 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.
POSTCODE_DISTRICT Postcode District string The postcode district relating to the patient, as held by NHSBSA at the time of processing the prescription. Taken from NHSBSA version of NHS Personal Demographic Service (PDS)