FOI-03010

Thank you for your request for information about the following: 

##Request 

<p><i>‘AP is prescribed as a single 3-gram oral dose of Amoxicillin 30-60 mins before the dental procedure. This is usually prescribed (as per BNF section 5) in the form of Amoxicillin (as Amoxicillin trihydrate) 3-gram oral powder sachets sugar free, Amoxil (as Amoxicillin trihydrate) 3-gram oral powder sachet sugar free, or 6 x 500mg capsules of Amoxicillin/Amoxil (as Amoxicillin trihydrate) taken orally as a single dose. Although Amoxicillin/Amoxil is prescribed for other purposes (usually at 500mg 8 hourly for 5 days), it is only prescribed as a single 3g dose for AP purposes. It is important, therefore, that we identify all prescriptions for a single oral 3g dose of Amoxicillin/Amoxil. We do not require data for other Amoxicillin/Amoxil regimes, however.</i></p>

<p><i>Patients allergic to penicillin are given a single 600mg dose of Clindamycin. As a 600mg tablet is not available, this is normally dispensed as 4 x 150mg tablets. Clindamycin 150mg is listed in BNF section 5 as Clindamycin 150mg or Dalacin 150mg. Although Clindamycin is prescribed for other purposes (usually at 150-300mg 6 hourly for 5 days), it is only prescribed as a single 600mg dose for AP purposes. It is important, therefore, that we identify all prescriptions for a single oral 600mg dose of Clindamycin. We do not require data for other Clindamycin regimes, however.</i></p>

<p><i>Previous FOI requests have provided us with the monthly prescribing data for a single 3g oral dose of Amoxicillin/Amoxil and a single 600mg oral dose of Clindamycin for the period between 1st January 2004 and 31st March 2013. We now request (a) the data from January2013 until now.</i></p>

<p><i>You have previously given us this data for all prescribing and split to show who issued the prescriptions: Dentist, GP, hospital or nurse practitioner. We would be grateful if you could provide the data now requested for all prescribing and split in the same way (if possible). If there are any new prescriber groups e.g. Physician Associates, we also request data for them. If it is possible to provide the information, we would also like to request details of the cost of these prescriptions.</i></p>

<p><i>We have explored the availability of this data through the ‘OpenPrescribing’ portal but understand that this covers only GP prescribing and, importantly for this study, does not include dental prescribing (or much hospital prescribing). Hence, we have resorted to an FOI request. However, if we could access this data more directly ourselves, we would welcome being directed to this and being provided with access – particularly as we would also like to track this prescribing prospectively over the next few years.</i></p>

<p><i>Please note we do not need patient level data or patient identifying information we only require total prescribing data for England, and if available Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland i.e. we need national level data only.’</i></p>

The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) received your request on 16 July 2025.  

We have handled your request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA). 

##Our response 

I can confirm that the NHSBSA holds the information you have requested and a copy of the information is attached. 

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  

Data in ePACT2 is sourced from the NHSBSA Information Services Data Warehouse and is derived from products prescribed on prescriptions and dispensed in the Community. The data captured from prescription processing is used to calculate reimbursement and remuneration. It includes items prescribed in England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Guernsey / Alderney, Jersey and Isle of Man which have been dispensed in the community in England. English prescribing that has been dispensed in Wales, Scotland, Guernsey / Alderney, Jersey and Isle of Man is also included.  

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.  

##This dataset  

The data indicates prescribing of oral Amoxicillin and Clindamycin presentations within BNF Section 5.1 (Antibacterial Drugs). Specific chemical substances included within the data are;  

Amoxicillin (0501013B0)  

Clindamycin hydrochloride (0501060D0)  

Included alongside the presentations are the quantity and the number of items prescribed for each presentation, and the recorded type of prescriber.  

##Time Period  

Monthly data from January 2014 to May 2025 (most recent month of prescribing data currently available). Data is aggregated by month.  

##Organisation Data  

The data includes prescriptions prescribed in England and dispensed anywhere in the UK.  

##BNF Code  

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).   

##Prescriber Type  

Indicates the prescriber type recorded as prescribing the prescription. An Unidentified Additional Prescriber refers to an unidentified prescription prescribed by either a pharmacist, optometrist, physiotherapist, paramedic, chiropodist/podiatrist, or radiographer. A Dispensing only doctor refers to a GP who can prescribe and also dispense prescription items to one or more of their patients. A Prescribing only doctor refers to a GP that can prescribe but cannot dispense prescription items to patients.   

##Quantity  

Normally shows the quantity of a product prescribed. However, where a product is packed in a 'special container' (see Drug Tariff Part II Clause 10) the pharmacist is not required to split the pack and may supply the number of containers or original packs which provide the quantity nearest to that prescribed. In some circumstances these items show quantity as the number of units supplied i.e. 1 or 2 even though a pack may contain 56 tablets.  

##Items  

Shows the number of times a product appears on a prescription form not the quantity prescribed. 

##Data Queries 

Please contact <a href=mailto:foirequests@nhsbsa.nhs.uk>foirequests@nhsbsa.nhs.uk</a> 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 <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. 

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: “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. 

Tags: Amoxicillin, Clindamycin, NHS Prescriptions
Organization: Freedom of Information Disclosure Log