Dispensing Practices dispensing data

<h2>Dataset Description</h2>
<p>This monthly dataset details information on practice prescribing in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man, and tracks where the prescription was ultimately dispensed within community contractors in England.<br>
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The report provides totals of the number of items that were dispensed by the pharmacy linked to  each individual practice responsible for the prescribing.
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The report also highlights the number of occasions where prescription items have travelled through the Electronic Prescribing Service (EPS).
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<p><strong>Key Features</strong></p>
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  <li>
    <strong>Prescribing Origin:</strong> Identifies the <strong>source practice</strong> where each prescription was originally written.
  </li>
  <li>
    <strong>Dispensing Origin:</strong> Tracks where the prescription was <strong>dispensed</strong>—specifically within <strong>community contractors in England</strong>.
  </li>
  <li>
    <strong>Volume Tracking:</strong> Aggregates the <strong>number of prescription items</strong> attributed to each originating practice and where they were dispensed.
  </li>
  <li>
    <strong>Electronic Prescribing Service (EPS):</strong>
    <ul>
      <li>Highlights how often prescriptions were processed via <strong>EPS</strong>.</li>
      <li>Provides insights into the <strong>adoption and flow</strong> of electronic prescriptions across regions and practices.</li>
    </ul>
  </li>
</ul>
<h2 style="margin: 0 0 5px 0;">Overview of Service</h2>
<p>
<p style="margin: 0;">Information about our NHSBSA Prescriptions Data service can be found here - <a href="https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/prescription-data">Prescription data | NHSBSA</a></p>
<h2 style="margin: 0 0 5px 0;">Dataset Details</h2>
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<p><details class="nhsuk-details"> <summary class="nhsuk-details__summary"> <span class="nhsuk-details__summary-text nhsuk-u-font-size-24">Publication Frequency</span> </summary>
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<p>Data is uploaded on a monthly basis and is published retrospectively with a three-month delay. 
<p>For example, May data is published in August.</p>
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<p><details class="nhsuk-details"> <summary class="nhsuk-details__summary"> <span class="nhsuk-details__summary-text nhsuk-u-font-size-24">Data Source</span> </summary>
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<p>NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) Data Warehouse (since 2018).</p>
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<p><details class="nhsuk-details"> <summary class="nhsuk-details__summary"> <span class="nhsuk-details__summary-text nhsuk-u-font-size-24">Data Collection</span> </summary>
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<p>The Dispensing Practice Dispensing Dataset is compiled from multiple NHSBSA data sources to ensure accuracy and consistency in prescription records.</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Organisational Data</strong>: Derived from the NHSBSA organisational database, providing up-to-date information on NHS GP practices and primary care organisations.</li>
<li><strong>Prescription Data</strong>: Includes all prescription items prescribed in the community in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man and submitted to NHSBSA for reimbursement and remuneration by dispensing contractors on a monthly basis.</li>
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<p><details class="nhsuk-details"> <summary class="nhsuk-details__summary"> <span class="nhsuk-details__summary-text nhsuk-u-font-size-24">Time Periods</span> </summary>
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<p>Data from January 2015 onwards is available on the NHSBSA Open Data Portal, with legacy format covering 2015–2024 and current format from January 2025.
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<p><details class="nhsuk-details"> <summary class="nhsuk-details__summary"> <span class="nhsuk-details__summary-text nhsuk-u-font-size-24">Geography</span> </summary>
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<p>England (dispensed).</p>
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<p><details class="nhsuk-details"> <summary class="nhsuk-details__summary"> <span class="nhsuk-details__summary-text nhsuk-u-font-size-24">Statistical Classification</span> </summary>
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<p>Management Information - This is not an official statistic.</p>
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<h2>Caveats</h2>

<div class="nhsuk-inset-text">
  <span class="nhsuk-u-visually-hidden">Information: </span>
  <h3 class="nhsuk-u-font-size-32">Geography or location inclusion</h3>
  <p>The data provided is based on England Community Dispensing only and may include items prescribed in Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey / Alderney and the Isle of Man which have been dispensed in England. </p>
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  <span class="nhsuk-u-visually-hidden">Information: </span>
  <h3 class="nhsuk-u-font-size-32">Geography or location exclusion</h3>
  <p>The data excludes items prescribed in England but dispensed in Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Isle of Man.<br>
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The data excludes prescription items which are disallowed, not dispensed and those returned for further clarification. <br>
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The data excludes dental prescriptions and items prescribed in hospitals, dispensed in the community.<br>
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The data excludes items dispensed in prisons, hospital and private prescriptions.<br>
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If a prescription was issued , but not presented for dispensing or was not submitted to NHSBSA Prescription Services by the dispenser, then it is not included in the data provided.
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  <span class="nhsuk-u-visually-hidden">Information: </span>
  <h3 class="nhsuk-u-font-size-32">Data prior to 2018</h3>
  <p>Items prescribed in Jersey, Guernsey / Alderney were not included.<br>
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Prescription items which are disallowed, not dispensed and those returned for further clarification were included.<br>
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Items shows the number of times a product appears on a prescription form not the quantity prescribed. Please note, previously to December 2018 dataset, where a vaccine is ordered on a High Volume Vaccine form and the ‘Total no. of doses administered in the month’ value is greater than 1, the report counts this as only 1 item. 
<p>For more information about High Volume Vaccine forms see the following link: <p>http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/PrescriptionServices/933.aspx <br>

<p>Where the dispenser is a dispensing practice then only the dispenser name will be displayed, the address will match the practice address except for unidentified doctors/practices and dummy practices.<br>
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  <span class="nhsuk-u-visually-hidden">Information: </span>
  <h3 class="nhsuk-u-font-size-32">Prescription information</h3>
  <p>Items shows the number of times a product appears on a prescription form not the quantity prescribed.</p>
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  <span class="nhsuk-u-visually-hidden">Information: </span>
  <h3 class="nhsuk-u-font-size-32">Data enhancement</h3>
  <p>To enhance the dataset as of December 2018 the number of EPS items have been included. EPS items show the number of times a product has been prescribed though the Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) which allows the electronic transfer of prescriptions from prescriber to dispenser to allow for medicines to be dispensed, then on to the NHSBSA for payment.</p>
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  <span class="nhsuk-u-visually-hidden">Information: </span>
  <h3 class="nhsuk-u-font-size-32">Practice information</h3>
  <p>NHSBSA Prescription Services do not hold practice codes and addresses for non-English prescribing which has been dispensed in England, therefore the practice name is displayed as a Dummy Practice.<br>
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The address assigned to unidentified practices/doctors is the address of the parent organisation.<br>
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Practices may consist of a number of different types of prescribers, including GPs, Nurse Prescribers, Pharmacist Prescribers, Hospital Doctor, Optometrist Prescribers, Physiotherapist Prescribers, Podiatrist Prescribers, and Dietician Prescribers.<br>
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Some of the "Practices" listed in the information are not traditional practices. They are other services which the Commissioner / Provider has set up as a practice, i.e. specialist units or out of hours services. These units are often indicated as having one prescriber.
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  <span class="nhsuk-u-visually-hidden">Information: </span>
  <h3 class="nhsuk-u-font-size-32">Column Headings</h3>
  <p>Please note that column headings may vary over time.</p>
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<h2>Enquiries</h2>
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<p><details class="nhsuk-details"> <summary class="nhsuk-details__summary"> <span class="nhsuk-details__summary-text nhsuk-u-font-size-24">Who can I contact if I have queries relating to the data?</span> </summary>
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<p>If you have any queries regarding the data provided, or if you plan on publishing the data, please contact <a href="mailto:DataServicesSupport@nhsbsa.nhs.uk">DataServicesSupport@nhsbsa.nhs.uk</a> ensuring you quote the name of the dataset for reference. This is important to ensure that the figures are not misunderstood or misrepresented.</p>
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<h2>Citing and Reusing This Data</h2>
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<p><details class="nhsuk-details"> <summary class="nhsuk-details__summary"> <span class="nhsuk-details__summary-text nhsuk-u-font-size-24">Important information regarding reusing the data and copyright</span> </summary>
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<p>If you plan on producing a press or broadcast story based upon the data, please contact <a href="mailto:communicationsteam@nhsbsa.nhs.uk">communicationsteam@nhsbsa.nhs.uk</a>. This is important to ensure that the figures are not misunderstood or misrepresented.</p>
<p>The information supplied to you continues to be protected by the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 and/or other applicable law. You may use the data freely, provided that you attribute the source.</p>
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<p><details class="nhsuk-details"> <summary class="nhsuk-details__summary"> <span class="nhsuk-details__summary-text nhsuk-u-font-size-24">Citation </span> </summary>
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<p>NHS Business Services Authority. "Dispensing Practices dispensing data" NHS Business Services Authority Open Data. Accessed **[Date Accessed]**. URL: <a href="https://opendata.nhsbsa.net/dataset/dispensing-practices-dispensing-data">https://opendata.nhsbsa.net/dataset/dispensing-practices-dispensing-data</a></p>
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Organization: Community Prescribing & Dispensing