Prescribing

Statistical Publication Notice

25 September 2007

Prescribing Statistics

INTRODUCTION

KEY POINTS

• There was a 2.9% increase in the number of prescriptions, however there was a decrease of 0.6% in the gross ingredient cost.
• The most commonly prescribed drug in Scotland is Aspirin.
• There was a 0.9% increase in generic prescribing, equating to 81.7% of all prescriptions being written generically.
• There was a 21.7% increase in the number of items issued by nurse prescribers.
• The cost of NHS prescription drugs and remuneration paid to community pharmacies, dispensing doctors and appliance suppliers rose by over 4%.
  The average cost to the NHS of a prescription rose from £12.54 to £12.55. 
• The overall cost of prescribing to the NHS was £998 million.

DETAILED FINDINGS

• Figures for 2006/07 were consistent with the trends seen in recent years of a year on year increase in the number of prescriptions.
• The rate of increase in the volume of prescribing was 2.9% in 2006/07, broadly similar to that in previous financial year.
• There was a decrease in the Gross Ingredient Cost of 0.6% compared to 2005/06.   This was due to a reduction in cost of several commonly prescribed drugs.

• Aspirin was the most commonly prescribed drug in 2006/07, which is primarily prescribed to prevent cardiovascular disease.  This was consistent with previous years.
• Two statins (used for controlling cholesterol) feature largely in the top ten drugs for cost.
• Atorvastatin, a lipid-regulating drug used to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease was the single most costly prescription drug during 2006/07.

• Doctors are encourage to prescribe generic or unbranded, versions of drugs where available, in order to reduce drug costs.
• In 2006/07 the percentage of all prescriptions written using the generic name rose by 0.9% to 81.7%, continuing the upward trend in recent years.

• In 2006/07, the number of prescriptions written by nurses increased 21.7%, with an increase of 11.4% in cost on the previous year.
• The largest increases in comparison to the previous year were prescribing for respiratory conditions and prescribing for infections.

• The file for 2006/07 is available for download, which gives a detailed breakdown of items dispensed.

• Community pharmacies increased by 5 on the previous year, to total 1175 in 2006/07.
• Essential Small Pharmacies decreased by one on the previous year from 49 to 48 in 2006/07.
• At October 2006 there were 278 dispensing doctors in Scotland, an increase of 2 compared to last year. 

• In 2006/07 the cost to the NHS of prescription drugs and remuneration paid to community pharmacies, appliance suppliers and dispensing doctors was £885 million, up 4% on last year.
• The overall cost to the NHS in 2006/07 was £998 million.  This equates to £184 per person registered with a GP in Scotland.
• The total number of prescriptions dispensed has risen by 2.9% to 79.5 million.  The average cost a prescription to the NHS has risen from £12.54 to £12.55 per item on last year.

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MAIN CONTACTS:

GLOSSARY:

PRE-RELEASE ACCESS TO THIS PUBLICATION WAS GIVEN TO:

HISTORY OF THIS PUBLICATION:

Last Published:  26 September 2006
Next Due:  23 September 2008
Data Available Since:

Various, details listed below:
March 1981 for prescription charges
March 1989 for prescribing volume and cost
March 1992 for community pharmacies, generic prescribing
March 1997 for summary statistics (Scotland)
March 2001 for Prescription Cost Analysis and nurse prescribing
March 2002 for summary statistics (NHS Board)
Current year only for Dispensing Doctors, Top 10 and essential small pharmacies

Main contact: Margaret Conway

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