Following discussions at Health SteerCo about the hackathon event in March, below the link to the open source datasets relating to prescription data. It's useful for health questions in relation to things like self-prescribing pain relief by gender and looking at where the data is highlighting issues with access to proper advice and GP prescribing for menopause etc.
Landing page for all the open access datasets on the NHSBA portal
It may be that a question could be devised for the hackers that combines use of the datasets above and some commercial/retail data, such as via the basket analysis project
Community Prescribing & Dispensing
Datasets on the prescribing and dispensing of medicines in the community.
1. Prescription Cost Analysis (PCA) Annual Statistics
The PCA release is an Official Statistic with National Statistic designation. The lowest granularity of data in the publication for both financial and calendar year is added here. PCA contains information on all prescription items dispensed in England and submitted to the NHSBSA for reimbursement.
The full statistical release, including more information on what the statistics contain, can be found on our website and you can specifically read the Prescription Cost Analysis Background Information and Methodology to understand more about the data.
2. Prescription Cost Analysis (PCA) Monthly Administrative Data
PCA contains information on all prescriptions items dispensed in the community in England on a monthly basis and submitted to the NHSBSA for reimbursement.
This data mirrors the methodology used in the PCA Annual National Statistics publication. The latest statistical release, along with more information on what PCA contains, can be found on the NHSBSA website and you can specifically read the Prescription Cost Analysis Background Information and Methodology. The monthly PCA release is a monthly management information data set and is not an Official Statistic.
Data for February 2008 to March 2021 is available on the NHSBSA website in a legacy format.
Data and Resources
Prescription Cost Analysis (PCA) - Aug 2023
Prescription Cost Analysis (PCA) - Jul 2023
Prescription Cost Analysis (PCA) - Jun 2023
3. English Prescribing Dataset (EPD)
This dataset contains information on prescriptions issued in England that have been dispensed in England, Wales, Scotland, Guernsey, Alderney, Jersey, and the Isle of Man.
The dataset combines elements of the Detailed Prescribing Information (DPI) data previously released by NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) via the Information Services Portal, and the Practice Level Prescribing in England (PLP) data released by NHS Digital via their website. It is intended to replace both of those sources.
These datasets have been brought together to provide end users with a single comprehensive, consistent and accessible source of prescribing information.
4. Hospital Prescribing Dispensed in the Community
We have worked with NHS Improvement (now NHS England) to produce a dataset on prescribing in a hospital setting which has been dispensed in the community.
The data is related to items prescribed and dispensed in England. The data only includes items prescribed by NHS Hospital Trust Units which have been dispensed in the community. Cost Centre data is not included in this dataset.
The data provided is based on England Hospital Trust prescribing only and may include items prescribed in England but dispensed in Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey, Alderney and the Isle of Man.
The dataset excludes:
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Items not dispensed, disallowed and those returned to the contractor for further clarification.
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Prescriptions prescribed and dispensed in Prisons, Hospitals and Private prescriptions.
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Items prescribed but not presented for dispensing or not submitted to NHS Prescription Services by the dispenser
Data and Resources
Hospital prescribing dispensed in community - August 2023