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In the PDF file, the number of prescription items dispensed for individual preparations, dressings or appliances is rounded to the nearest 100. There are a very large number of preparations/dressings/appliances where only 50 items or less were dispensed in 2001. While accounting for just over 50 % of the total number of preparations dispensed, such preparations only covered 0.02% of the total items dispensed. In order, therefore, to keep the publication to a manageable size, such preparations have been excluded. Information on these items can be obtained by contacting the address in paragraph 11 below.

The Excel file also excludes data on products where less than 50 prescription items were dispensed and aggregating data for individual products may not produce the actual totals. The Excel file therefore includes these totals for the following 6 levels of aggregation:

The data in the file for prescription numbers, cost and quantity are to the nearest integer. However we would recommend that any data extracted for use is presented to the nearest thousand.

4. Further details about PCA data can be obtained from:
Candida Ballantyne
Statistics Division (SD1E)
Room 479D, Skipton House
80 London Road
Elephant and Castle
London SE1 6LH
Telephone: 020 7972 5515

• Email: candida.ballantyne@doh.gsi.gov.uk (opens new window)

Prescription Cost Analysis: Sources, Glossary of Terms and Codes Used and Availability of Published Data

Background to PCA

1. Prescription Cost Analysis (PCA) data are based on information obtained from prescriptions sent to the Prescription Pricing Authority (PPA) for payment. Currently PCA data cover all prescriptions dispensed in the community, i.e. by community pharmacists, appliance contractors, dispensing doctors, and items personally administered by doctors.

Prescriptions included

2. General Medical Practitioners in England write the vast majority of prescriptions included. Prescriptions written by dentists and hospital doctors are also included provided that they were dispensed in the community. Also included are prescriptions written in Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man but dispensed in England. Prescriptions written in England but dispensed outside England are not included. The data do not cover items dispensed in hospital or on private prescriptions.

Definitions

3. Therapeutic classification

PCA data are based currently on the therapeutic grouping used in the British National Formulary. The classification in this report is based on the September 2000 BNF.

The PPA has created pseudo BNF chapters, which are not published, for items not included in BNF chapters 1 to 15. The majority of such items are dressings and appliances, which the PPA has classified into four pseudo BNF chapters (20 to 23). However some gel and colloid dressings that are classified as drugs are included in a pseudo section within BNF 13 (13.13). The PPA has produced a booklet on BNF classifications and the pseudo classifications used.

4. Drug name

The drug is shown by individual preparation name, which may be proprietary or generic, followed by form and strength. The names used are often presented in an abbreviated form.

5. Items dispensed (PXS)

A prescription item refers to a single item prescribed by a doctor (or dentist) on a prescription form. If a prescription form includes three items it is counted as three prescription items.

6. Net Ingredient Cost (NIC)

NIC refers to the cost of the drug before discounts and does not include any dispensing costs or fees. It does not include any adjustment for income obtained where a prescription charge is paid at the time the prescription is dispensed or where the patient has purchased a pre-payment certificate.

7. Quantity (QTY)

The quantity of a drug dispensed is measured in units depending on the formulation of the product. See standard quantity unit below.

8. Standard quantity unit (SQU)

This code indicates the form of the drug and the units in which quantity is measured:

9. Class of preparation (Prep Class)

Many drugs are now prescribed generically even when they are not available in generic form, e.g. because the branded product is still in patent. Within the PCA system prescriptions for drugs are classified in four ways:

10. Treatment of prescription items written generically

The information in this volume and particularly the allocation of classes 1-3 to drugs by the PPA reflect the rules for reimbursement.

Therefore, where a pharmacist has been reimbursed at the generic price, the drug will be defined as class 1, but where a generic is not available and hence a pharmacist has been reimbursed at proprietary prices, the class will be 2. (Part VIII of the Drug Tariff, published by The Stationery Office and available from the Stationery Office Bookshops, lists the basis for reimbursement for most commonly prescribed generic drugs.)

Where a drug is defined as class 2, the prescription items, NIC, etc for it are allocated across the items for all equivalent proprietaries. This is done pro rata on the basis of the number of proprietary prescription items dispensed. The column headed "Of which Class 2" in the tables gives the number of prescription items resulting from this apportionment. There are a small number of preparations that are not linked to equivalent proprietaries that appear separately with a class of 2.

In some cases, although a generic is available and the pharmacist has been reimbursed at the Drug Tariff price, the pharmacist may have chosen to dispense the equivalent proprietary product. This will nonetheless be recorded as class 1 and the drugs shown as the generic in the table.

Availability of publications

11. Copies of the publication may be purchased from Prolog by sending a cheque made payable to the Department of Health to the address given in the 'Ordering publications' link above. The books cost £10 from 1991 to 1997 and £12 from 1998 on.

12. Annual statistical bulletins which summarise data relating to prescriptions dispensed in the year and highlight some of the trends over the past 10 years are avaliable free of charge from the address in paragraph 11.