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Prescriptions by General Medical Practitioners, 2009-10

Wales issues highest number of prescriptions in UK

25 August 2010

The latest National Statistics on GP prescribing produced by the Welsh Assembly Government finds that in 2009-10 compared to the rest of the UK:

• Wales dispensed the highest number of prescription items per head of population – 22.6 compared to 18.9 in Northern Ireland, 17.1 in England and 16.6 in Scotland.
• Wales had the second highest net ingredient cost per head of population - £ 194.10 compared to  £ 232.39 in Northern Ireland, £ 187.54 in Scotland and £ 164.82 in England.
• Wales had the lowest net ingredient cost per prescription item - £ 8.61 compared to £ 9.64 in England, £ 11.28 in Scotland and £ 12.31 in Northern Ireland.

The number of prescription items dispensed in Wales increased from 64.9 million in 2008-09 to 67.9 million (up by 4.6 per cent). This was equivalent to 21.7 per head of population registered with a GP in Wales. The net ingredient cost of all prescriptions dispensed increased by 1.8 per cent since 2008-09, to £ 588.2 million. This was equivalent to £187.64 per person registered with a GP.

Note: Prescriptions are free in Wales and Northern Ireland, £3.00 in Scotland (Prescriptions will be free of charge by April 2011) and £7.20 in England.

More information

• welsh assembly website

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