FOI-01931

Thank you for your request for information about the following: 

##Request 

You asked us: 

‘Thank you so much for your support and assistance with providing the datasets as per my previous FOI request: 01810 as per below. 

It has provided us with detailed insight into patient requirements via Appliance Contractor (DAC) dispensing. 

Can you kindly please provide an updated dataset with the same criteria below, for the months available for the current year, 2024. 

Dataset to include the following fields: 

NHS ODS Code for the Dispensing Appliance Contractor 

BNF Code for the product dispensed 

Snomed Code for the product dispensed (either AMP or AMPP Code) 

Year and month product dispensed (for example 202301 – for January 2023) 

Total items dispensed, Total Quantity Dispensed and Total NIC value for each item dispensed.’ 

The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) received your request on 13 May 2024.  

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. The data is too large to send via email, please visit our Freedom of Information log to download a copy of the data: 

https://opendata.nhsbsa.net/dataset/foi-01931 

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 was the NHSBSA Information Services Data Warehouse. 

##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. 

Please note drugs flagged in our database as Schedule 2 and 3 controlled drugs have been excluded from this dataset for information security reasons to prevent the identification of organisations with high levels of controlled drug dispensing.  

##Time Period 

January 2024 to March 2024  

##ORGANISATION  

For data for this request FOI 01931 they will need to use column ACCOUNT_TYPE and filter to English Appliance Contractor. 

##BNF CODE	 

The 11 characters at the beginning of a BNF code which specifies a Product (generic or branded) but not its strength or formulation. 

##PRODUCT_ORDER_NUMBER and PACK_ORDER_NUMBER 

If this is not held in our database then it will be blank. 

##SNOMED_CONCEPT_ID 

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. 

##VMP_VMPP_AMP_AMPP 

VMP / VMPP / AMP / AMPP indicates if the row of data relates to a virtual (VMP) or actual (AMP) product. With VMP and AMP at presentation level and VMPP and AMPP being at pack level.  

##ITEMS 

Items shows the number of times a product appears on a prescription form not the quantity prescribed. 

##NIC_GBP 

The cost of the supplied item(s) calculated from the reimbursement price held on the NHSBSA master database.  Given in Pounds Stirling. 

##TOTAL_QUANTITY 

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) 

##EPD_FLAG 

When this says 'EPD' the data is included in the English Prescribing dataset on our open data portal. This means the prescriptions were prescribed in England by GP practices/cost centres, dispensed in England, Jersey, Guernsey/Alderny, IOM, Wales, Scotland. 

A link to the EPD https://opendata.nhsbsa.net/dataset/english-prescribing-data-epd 

##ACCOUNT_TYPE 

Categorises the dispensing contractor according to country and type of contractor.  

##BNF_APPLIANCE_FLAG 

Indicates if the presentation is categorised in the BNF chapters 20-23. 

##EPD_BNF_20_21_22 

Indicates that the prescription is included in the English Prescribing dataset and the presentation is categorised in the BNF chapters 20-22. 

##EPD_BNF_23 

Indicates that the prescription is included in the English Prescribing dataset and the presentation is categorised in the BNF chapter 23. 

##ENG_PRESC_BNF20_23 

Indicates the prescription was prescribed in England, and the presentation is categorised in the BNF chapters 20-23. This is not limited by the type of prescribing organisation or the dispensing location. 

##Data Queries 

If you have any queries regarding the data provided, or if you plan on publishing, the data please contact foidata@nhsbsa.nhs.uk ensuring you quote the above reference. This is important to ensure that the figures are not misunderstood or misrepresented. 

##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: 

“NHSBSA Information Services Data Warehouse, NHSBSA Copyright 2024” This information is licenced under the terms of the Open Government Licence: 

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/  

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: Appliance contractor, Dispensing
Organization: Freedom of Information Disclosure Log