FOI-03895

##Request

You asked us:

<i>Refresh of FOI request FOI 01577/02933
 
Excess SABA prescribing Using methodology for Respiratory Dashboard Catalyst Definition: Identifying the proportion of patients prescribed preventer inhalers without antimuscarinics who were also prescribed 3/6/9/12 or more SABA inhalers Figures are reported for a rolling 12 month period  
 
Reporting Level: Practice PCN Sub ICB ICB Level  
 
Numerator: No patients prescribed 3/6/9/12 or more SABA inhalers in a 12 month period who were also prescribed a preventer inhaler but not prescribed an antimuscarinic  
 
Denominator: No of patients prescribed a preventer inhaler but not an antimuscarinic  
 
Methodology: Numerator divided by denominator presented as a percentage please share numerator and denominator  
 
Periods: Presented Monthly FY2024 FY2025 FY2026 
 
Clarifications on previous request:  
 
Please can I request the following: 
 
3 plus, 6plus, 9plus and 12plus SABA inhalers</i>

The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) received your request on 10 June 2026. 

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 and a copy of the information is attached.

Please read the below notes to ensure correct understanding of the data.

NHSBSA Prescription Services process prescriptions and information is then used to make payments to pharmacists and appliance contractors (in England) for prescriptions dispensed in primary care settings. This involves processing approximately 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 users.

##Data Source: 
NHSBSA Information Services Data Warehouse
 
##Time Period: 
April 2024 to March 2026 inclusive; each data points reflects prescribing in the 12 months to the reporting period. 
 
##Contents:  
The data shows the total number of unique patients at each reporting level, who: were prescribed 3 or more, 6 or more, 9 or more and 12 or more SABA inhalers (see below) in a practice / cost centre under the organisational unit shown in the 12 months to the reporting month (the column "Numerator patient count"); and those prescribed a preventer but not an antimuscarinic, in the same practice in which the numerator is measured, in the same 12-month period (the column "Denominator patient count").
 
##Organisational structures: 
The data is shown for items prescribed in GP practices and cost centres in sub ICB locations (SICBLs) in England, and dispensed anywhere within the community.
 
##Medicines: 
In the numerator, data is shown for prescribing of short-acting beta-agonist (SABA) inhalers; in the denominator, data is shown for prescribing of preventer inhalers and antimuscarinic products.  A full list of medicines considered for inclusion can be found alongside the datasets, in the Excel spreadsheet.
 
##Patient data: 
Data is shown for patients who could be identfied by means of a valid NHS number on the prescription form, and those for whom a valid age was captured on the form.  Prescribing for patients who do not meet this criteria has been excluded.  No personal identifiable data has been included in this release.   Patient totals are calculated uniquely for each reporting period and organisational unit; patients may appear under more than one category, so patient totals must not be combined or double counting will occur.
 
##Data coverage: 
For all prescription items issued during the reporting periods included in the data, 99.7% of items can be attributed to an identifiable patient.  For medicines included in this analysis, the rate is 99.8%.
  
##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.

##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: “Data Warehouse, NHSBSA Copyright 2026”. 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: NHS Presciption Services
Organization: Freedom of Information Disclosure Log