Question 1

What is PharmAnalyser?

Accepted Answer

PharmAnalyser is a comprehensive platform that provides access to NHS pharmacy and GP practice data across England and Scotland. We aggregate and present official NHS data including prescription dispensing statistics, Pharmacy First services, NMS (New Medicine Service) consultations, MCR (Medicines Care and Review) services, and other key performance metrics. Our platform helps healthcare professionals, researchers, students, and the general public understand healthcare delivery patterns and performance across the NHS.

Question 2

Where does the data come from?

Accepted Answer

All data on PharmAnalyser is sourced directly from official NHS datasets published by NHS England and NHS Scotland. For England, we use NHS England Contractor Dispensing data, which provides comprehensive information on prescription items dispensed, Pharmacy First services, and NMS consultations. For Scotland, we use NHS Scotland Contractor Activity data, which includes paid prescription items, Pharmacy First payments, and MCR service payments. All data is publicly available NHS information that we aggregate and present in an accessible, user-friendly format.

Question 3

Why is all the data on this website out of date?

Accepted Answer

The figures on PharmAnalyser are from official NHS sources and represent the most recent data available. For NHS payments to pharmacies for prescriptions and services, data is typically 3 months behind the current date, since this is when pharmacies are paid for those services. However, this varies slightly between different nations. Additionally, Scotland only releases data quarterly, so the figures can be up to 6 months behind the current date. This delay is standard across all NHS data platforms and ensures accuracy and completeness of the payment information.

Question 4

Why are the items counts all wrong?

Accepted Answer

For English pharmacies, we display the number of prescription items done by the pharmacy each month as 2 different values: Items, which is the number of prescription items paid by NHSBSA, and Professional fees, which is the total of the number of fees for prescription items paid by NHSBSA. These 2 figures represent different things. For example, a prescription for 24 x 200ml bottles of Fortisip mixed flavours will count as 1 item. However, if the pharmacy dispenses and claims for 5 different flavours, then this will count as 5 professional fees. The total number of items will therefore generally be less than the number of professional fees. By default, we use the items figure to compare different pharmacies, because this is a more accurate representation of the number of prescriptions dispensed.

Question 5

Can I track pharmacies and add them to a watchlist?

Accepted Answer

Yes! With a subscription, you can add pharmacies and GP practices to your watchlist. This allows you to easily monitor their performance over time, receive updates when new data becomes available, and quickly access your tracked locations from your dashboard. You can manage your watchlist (add, remove, or edit tracked locations) directly from your dashboard. This feature is available to all subscribers.

Question 6

How much does PharmAnalyser cost?

Accepted Answer

PharmAnalyser offers a free trial for new users - your first 3 visits are completely free with full access. After that, you can continue with limited data access for free, or subscribe for full access at £4.19 per month. Subscriptions are billed monthly through Stripe and can be cancelled at any time.

Question 7

What metrics are available on PharmAnalyser?

Accepted Answer

PharmAnalyser provides a wide range of metrics including: Items Dispensed (total prescription items processed), Pharmacy First Services (covering conditions like acute otitis media, sore throat, impetigo, infected insect bites, shingles, sinusitis, uncomplicated UTI, minor illness referrals, and urgent medicine supply), NMS (New Medicine Service) consultations, MCR (Medicines Care and Review) services, and other key performance indicators. Each metric is explained in detail on the relevant pages with tooltips and information sections.

Question 8

Is PharmAnalyser free to use?

Accepted Answer

PharmAnalyser offers a free trial period for new users. Your first 3 visits are completely free with full access to all data. After that, you can continue using the platform with limited data access, or subscribe for full access at £4.19 per month. Subscriptions are managed through Stripe and can be cancelled at any time. With a subscription, you get unlimited access to all data, historical trends, watchlist features, and advanced analytics.

Question 9

Can I use this data for research or academic purposes?

Accepted Answer

Yes, the data on PharmAnalyser can be used for research and academic purposes. However, we strongly recommend verifying the data with official NHS sources for academic or professional research, especially when publishing findings. All data is publicly available NHS information, aggregated and presented in an accessible format. For critical research, we recommend cross-referencing with the original NHS datasets available from NHS Digital and Public Health Scotland.

Question 10

How accurate is the data on PharmAnalyser?

Accepted Answer

The data on PharmAnalyser is sourced directly from official NHS datasets, ensuring high accuracy. However, as with any data aggregation and presentation system, there may be occasional discrepancies or delays. We recommend cross-referencing with official NHS sources for critical decisions. Data is typically published 2-3 months after the reporting period to ensure completeness and accuracy. If you notice any specific inaccuracies, please report them to us at support@pharmanalyser.co.uk.

Question 11

What is the difference between England and Scotland data?

Accepted Answer

The main differences reflect the different healthcare systems and data collection methods in England and Scotland. England data includes items dispensed (pCItems), Pharmacy First services (sum of all PF conditions), and NMS consultations. Scotland data includes paid items dispensed (numberOfPaidItems), Pharmacy First payments (pfPayment), and MCR payments (mcrPayment). The metrics are similar but measured differently due to the separate NHS systems. Both datasets are updated monthly and provide comprehensive insights into pharmacy performance.

Question 12

What is Pharmacy First?

Accepted Answer

Pharmacy First is an NHS service that allows community pharmacies to provide consultations and treatments for minor illnesses without requiring a GP appointment. This service helps reduce pressure on GP practices and provides convenient access to healthcare. In England, Pharmacy First covers conditions including acute otitis media, acute sore throat, impetigo, infected insect bites, shingles, sinusitis, uncomplicated UTI, minor illness referrals, and urgent medicine supply. In Scotland, pharmacies receive payments for providing these services, which are tracked in our leaderboards.

Question 13

What is NMS (New Medicine Service)?

Accepted Answer

NMS stands for New Medicine Service, which is a consultation service provided by community pharmacies in England. It helps patients understand and manage new medications, particularly for long-term conditions. Pharmacists provide structured support to improve medication adherence and identify any issues early. This service is particularly valuable for patients starting new medications for conditions like diabetes, hypertension, or other chronic diseases. The number of NMS consultations provided by each pharmacy is tracked and displayed in our England pharmacy leaderboards.

Question 14

What is MCR (Medicines Care and Review)?

Accepted Answer

MCR stands for Medicines Care and Review, which is a service provided by community pharmacies in Scotland. It involves structured medication reviews to help patients manage their medicines effectively, identify any issues, and optimize their medication regimen. This service is particularly important for patients with multiple medications or complex health conditions. Pharmacies receive payments for providing MCR services, and these are tracked in our Scotland pharmacy leaderboards.

Question 15

How do I find a specific pharmacy or GP practice?

Accepted Answer

You can find specific pharmacies and GP practices in several ways: Use our interactive map to search by location, search by pharmacy code or GP practice ODS code, browse through the leaderboards to find top performers, or use the search functionality on individual pages. Each pharmacy and GP practice has a dedicated page with detailed information, historical data, and performance metrics.

Question 16

Can I download the data?

Accepted Answer

Currently, PharmAnalyser provides data through our web interface. For bulk data access, specific data requests, or API access, please contact us at support@pharmanalyser.co.uk. We are continuously working to improve data accessibility and may add download features, CSV exports, or API access in the future. Individual data points can be viewed and copied from the detailed pages.

Question 17

Who operates PharmAnalyser?

Accepted Answer

PharmAnalyser is owned and operated by Caledonian Tech LTD, a Scottish company (Company Number: SC789615) based in Glasgow. We are committed to providing transparent, accessible healthcare data to support better understanding of NHS service delivery. Our company is registered at 41 Milnpark Street, Glasgow, G41 1BB, United Kingdom.

Question 18

How do I report an error or issue?

Accepted Answer

If you notice any errors or issues with the data, website functionality, or have suggestions for improvements, please contact us at support@pharmanalyser.co.uk. We take data accuracy and user experience seriously and will investigate any reported issues promptly. Please include as much detail as possible, including the page URL, what you expected to see, and what you actually saw.

Question 19

Is there an API available?

Accepted Answer

Currently, PharmAnalyser does not offer a public API. However, we are exploring options for API access in the future. For bulk data access or integration requirements, please contact us at support@pharmanalyser.co.uk to discuss your needs. We may be able to provide custom solutions for specific use cases.

Question 20

Can I compare pharmacies or GP practices?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can compare pharmacies and GP practices using our leaderboards, which rank them by various metrics. You can also view individual pages for each pharmacy or GP practice to see detailed performance data. While we don't currently have a dedicated comparison tool, you can open multiple pages in separate tabs to compare different providers side by side.

Question 21

What time period does the data cover?

Accepted Answer

The data on PharmAnalyser covers monthly reporting periods from when NHS data became available. Historical data is preserved, allowing you to view trends over time. The exact date range varies by region and data type, but typically includes data from recent years. The most recent reporting period is displayed on each page, and you can view historical data on individual pharmacy and GP practice pages.

Question 22

Are there any restrictions on using the data?

Accepted Answer

The data on PharmAnalyser is publicly available NHS information, so there are no restrictions on viewing or using it for personal, research, or commercial purposes. However, we recommend verifying data with official NHS sources for critical decisions. The data is provided under the same terms as the original NHS datasets, which are typically published under the Open Government Licence. For specific licensing questions, please refer to the original NHS data sources.

Question 23

How do leaderboards work?

Accepted Answer

Our leaderboards rank pharmacies and GP practices by various performance metrics. For pharmacies, we rank by items dispensed, Pharmacy First services, NMS consultations (England), and MCR payments (Scotland). The leaderboards show the top performers in each category, with rankings from 1 to 100 (or more, depending on available data). You can view the top 10 by default, or expand to see all results. Each entry includes the pharmacy name, code, address, and the metric value.

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