Some people believe we are super lucky to have a system in place like the NHS, providing world-class healthcare to every citizen for free. Others believe the NHS should do better, and that there are significant failings in some areas. Well, let’s look at one arm of the NHS – prescriptions – and how and where that money gets spent.
Based on the most recent data, here’s a look at the top 15 areas in England that spend the most per person on prescriptions. It’s also worth noting that the NHS spends £10,069,928,639 on 1,163,473,221 prescriptions per year across the country, with an average prescription item price of £8.99 and an average cost per person of £164.56.
15. Suffolk and North East Essex
In Suffolk and North East Essex, each person’s prescription cost averages £174. The area serves a population of over a million, with a total prescription expenditure of £181.8 million. The cost per item in this region is £7.77, which reflects a relatively moderate cost per prescription.
14. Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire ranks 14th, with an average of £175 spent per person on prescriptions. The region has one of the smallest populations in this list, about 671,000 people, but still racks up a prescription bill of over £117 million. The cost per item here is £8.97, which is above the national average.
13. Sussex
Sussex spends £181 per person on prescriptions, covering a population of about 1.8 million. With a total expenditure of nearly £327 million, the cost per item in this region is £9.98, reflecting either higher costs of medications or more extensive healthcare coverage.
12. Lancashire and South Cumbria
In Lancashire and South Cumbria, the prescription cost per person stands at £181. The region handles over 40 million prescription items, costing £325.8 million in total. The cost per item is £8.02, indicating a focus on managing prescription costs effectively.
11. North East and North Cumbria
The North East and North Cumbria area spends £181 per person, serving one of the largest populations on this list, over 3.1 million people. The total prescription expenditure reaches £566.2 million, with a cost per item of £6.89, the lowest among the top 15, indicating efficient cost management.
10. Kent and Medway
Kent and Medway ranks 10th, spending £181 per person on prescriptions. This region, with a population of nearly 2 million, incurs a total cost of £352.9 million on prescriptions. The cost per item is £10.36, one of the higher averages in this list.
9. Black Country
The Black Country area spends £183 per person on prescriptions. With a population of around 1.27 million, the total expenditure is over £232 million. The cost per item here is £9.14, suggesting a moderate prescription cost compared to other regions.
8. Greater Manchester
In Greater Manchester, the prescription cost per person is £188. Serving a large population of over 3.1 million, the total spending on prescriptions exceeds £588 million. The cost per item in this region is £9.01, which aligns with the national average.
7. Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire spends £190 per person on prescriptions, with a population just over 800,000. The total cost of prescriptions in this region is about £152.2 million, with a cost per item of £6.99, reflecting one of the lower costs per prescription in the top 15.
6. Cheshire and Merseyside
Cheshire and Merseyside rank sixth with a prescription expenditure of £195 per person. The region, which serves 2.7 million people, spends over £526 million on prescriptions. The cost per item here is £8.74, which is slightly below the average among the top spenders.
5. Nottingham and Nottinghamshire
In Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, £200 is spent per person on prescriptions. The area, with a population of around 1.2 million, sees a total expenditure of £246.2 million. The cost per item is £10.04, placing it among the higher costs in the top 15.
4. Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent
Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent rank fourth, with £202 spent per person on prescriptions. The region, serving over 1.1 million people, incurs a total prescription cost of £235.4 million. The cost per item here is £8.81, reflecting a balanced approach to prescription spending.
3. West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire ranks third, spending £210 per person on prescriptions. The region handles the second highest total expenditure, £548 million, and has one of the highest prescription item counts per person at 25.9. The cost per item is £8.10, indicating a higher volume but relatively lower cost per prescription.
2. Herefordshire and Worcestershire
In Herefordshire and Worcestershire, £280 is spent per person on prescriptions, making it the second highest in England. The area serves a smaller population of around 813,000 but still racks up a total cost of £228 million. The cost per item here is £14.29, reflecting the high expense of the medications prescribed in this region.
1. Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough top the list, with an astounding £332 spent per person on prescriptions. Although this region has one of the lowest item counts, just over 20 million, the total prescription expenditure exceeds £333 million. The cost per prescription item is £16.21, the highest in England, making it the most expensive area in the country for prescriptions.
Methodology
To compile this list, I used the latest data from the NHS Business Services Authority on prescription costs and population statistics from NHS England provided by NHS Discount Offers. I ranked each region based on the average cost per person, as well as the cost per prescription item, providing a detailed look at how different areas allocate funds for healthcare.
Katy Willis is a writer, master herbalist, master gardener, and certified canine nutritionist who has been writing since 2002. She’s finds joy in learning new and interesting things, and finds history, science, and nature endlessly fascinating.
