FOI-03880

##Request

You asked us:

<i>As well as the Boots data (which I mentioned in my email of May 28) the other data, which should be much simpler, that would be very helpful are:

* Number of items dispensed by what NHSBSA categorises as small, medium and large independents/chains which I think are 1-5 pharmacies, 6 99 pharmacies and 100. <br>
* For the full years between 2020 and 2025 or for the same month in those years.
This is urgent so I would really value a quick response. The Boots data can wait.</i>

The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) received your request on 1 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.

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.

##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.
* items supplied as part of a Pharmacy First consultation or service.

##Data Source	
The data source was the NHSBSA Information Services Data Warehouse.
 
##Time Period	
January 2020 - December 2025.
 
##Organisation Data	
The data provided is for prescriptions dispensed in England by pharmacies, excluding appliance contractors. 
 
Item counts have been split by pharmacy chain size. These categories refer to the number of premises in each pharmacy group:
 
Small - 1-5 pharmacies<br>
Medium - 6-99 pharmacies<br>
Large - 100+ pharmacies
 
Where possible, we have attempted to replicate the methodology used in the Pharmacy Openings and Closures dataset. Pharmacy items have been reported against a group size in months in which they were active, including where a pharmacy was active for part of that month. Any items claimed by accounts that closed in prior months have been excluded.

##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