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Digital

National Statistics
Publication, Part of

Prescriptions Dispensed in the Community - Statistics for England, 1995-2005

Official statistics, National statistics
Publication Date:
Geographic Coverage:
England
Date Range:
Snapshot on 20 Jul 2006

Summary

This bulletin presents a summary of prescriptions dispensed in the community in England. The statistics cover all prescriptions dispensed by community pharmacists, appliance contractors and dispensing doctors, as well as prescriptions for items personally administered. The bulletin highlights recent changes and the main trends between 1995 and 2005.

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Highlights

  • The net ingredient cost of all prescriptions dispensed decreased by 1.8 per cent to 7,937 million; a decrease of 3.8 per cent in real terms on 2004.
  • 720 million prescription items were dispensed; an increase of 5.0 per cent on 2004.
  • The average net ingredient cost per prescription item was 11.02; a decrease of 6.4 per cent or 8.3 per cent in real terms on 2004 - the net ingredient cost per item in 1995 was 7.78.
  • The leading BNF Chapter in terms of prescription items dispensed and net ingredient cost is the Cardiovascular System.
  • 80.1 per cent of all prescription items were written generically.
  • There were on average 14.3 prescription items per head of population compared to 13.7 in 2004 and 9.8 in 1995.
  • The young received fewer items per head in 2005 (3.8) than in 1995 (5.1).
  • The elderly received 38.4 items per head in 2005 compared to 21.8 in 1995.
  • 87.6 per cent of all prescription items dispensed were free to patients.

Administrative Sources

Prescription Cost Analysis

Resources

Last edited: 13 October 2020 9:16 am