Version: 1.0.0 | Published: 15 Apr 2026 | Updated: 0 days ago
Summary
Documentation
Associated Media:
Description:
The information is supplied by Practitioner & Counter Fraud Services Division (P&CFS) who is responsible for the processing and pricing of all prescriptions dispensed in Scotland. These data are augmented with information on prescriptions written in Scotland that were dispensed elsewhere in the United Kingdom. GP’s write the vast majority of these prescriptions, with the remainder written by other authorised prescribers such as nurses and dentists. Also included in the dataset are prescriptions written in hospitals that are dispensed in the community. Note that prescriptions dispensed within hospitals are not included. Data includes CHI number, prescriber and dispenser details for community prescribing, costs and drug information. Data on practices (e.g. list size), organisational structures (e.g. practices within Community Health Partnerships (CHPs) and NHS Boards), prescribable items (e.g. manufacturer, formulation code, strength) are also included.
Around 100 million data items are loaded per annum.
In Pipeline:
Available
Coverage
Spatial:
- United Kingdom
- Scotland
Typical Age Range Min:
0
Typical Age Range Max:
150
Material Type:
None/not available
Follow Up:
Other
Pathway:
Primary & community dispensed prescriptions
Provenance
Origin
Purpose:
Care
Dataset Type:
Health and disease
Dataset Sub-Type:
Not applicable
Source:
Other
Collection Source:
Primary care - Clinic
Image Contrast:
Not stated
Temporal
Publishing Frequency:
Monthly
Distribution Release Date:
27 October 2024
Start Date:
01 April 2009
Time Lag:
1-2 months
Accessibility
Access
Access Service Category:
TRE/SDE
Access Service:
Scottish National Safe Haven / Trusted Research Environment:
https://publichealthscotland.scot/services/data-research-and-innovation-services/electronic-data-research-and-innovation-service-edris/national-safe-haven-nsh/
Access Request Cost:
Delivery Lead Time:
Variable
Data Controller:
Public Health Scotland / National Records Scotland
Data Processor:
National Services Scotland
Jurisdiction:
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Usage
Data Use Limitation:
General research use
Data Use Requirements:
- Collaboration required
- Institution-specific restrictions
- Not for profit use
Resource Creator:
Public Health Scotland
Format and Standards
Vocabulary Encoding Scheme:
DM+D
Conforms To:
OMOP
Language:
English
Format:
- text
- csv
Observations
Statistical Population
Population Description
Population Size
Measured Property
Observation Date
Findings
0
Count
01 February 2026