Statistics on Public Health, England 2025

Data is produced by the NHS Business Services Authority (NHS BSA) and is available from the Prescription Cost Analysis for England reports. The key difference between the Statistics on Public Health and NHS BSA publications is that the former presents data by items prescribed, whilst NHS BSA reporting is presented by items dispensed.

The data is available from the Prescription Cost Analysis webpage:

https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/statistical-collections/prescription-cost-analysis-england

Links to all the annual datasets are at the bottom of the page with the latest version at the top of that list.

Selecting the latest dataset version takes you to a page that includes:

• A statistical summary narrative including definitions
• Key findings
• Background information and methodology note
• and Excel data files covering:
  • National summary tables - financial year
  • National summary tables - calendar year
  • NHS region summary tables - financial year
  • NHS region summary tables - calendar year
  • ICB summary tables - financial year
  • ICB summary tables - calendar year
  • Additional tables

Click on the links to select the dataset of interest that will have values available for the reporting year (financial or calendar):

• Total Items
• Total Cost (£)
• Cost Per Item (£)
• Population Year
• Population
• Items Per 1,000 Population

The specific filtering required for each of the domains are given in the sections below.

In the downloaded data file (in this example the "National summary tables - financial year") open the "Chemical_Substances" tab as this gives you the most granular data. Filtering on "Alcohol dependence" under "BNF Paragraph Name" create the following filtered rows where the specific drugs included are shown under "BNF Chemical Substance Name".

If you don't need to know the chemical substance breakdown then you can filter on "Alcohol dependence" under "BNF Paragraph Name" on the "BNF_Paragraphs" tab.

In the downloaded data file (in this example the "National summary tables - financial year") open the "Chemical_Substances" tab as this gives you the most granular data. Filter on "Drugs used in the treatment of obesity" under "BNF Section Name" create the following filtered rows where the specific drugs included are shown under "BNF Chemical Substance Name".

If you don't need to know the chemical substance breakdown then you can filter on "Drugs used in the treatment of obesity" under "BNF Section Name" on the "BNF_Sections" tab.

In the downloaded data file (in this example the "National summary tables - financial year") open the "Chemical_Substances" tab as this gives you the most granular data. Filter on "Nicotine dependence" under "BNF Paragraph Name" create the following filtered rows where the specific drugs included are shown under "BNF Chemical Substance Name".

If you don't need to know the chemical substance breakdown then you can filter on "Nicotine dependence" under "BNF Paragraph Name" on the "BNF_Paragraphs" tab.