Are Prescription Numbers Rising or Falling? NHS Trends from 2015 to 2025

Over the past ten years, the NHS in England has seen big changes in the way prescriptions are written and managed. With more people living longer and developing long-term health conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and arthritis, you might expect prescription numbers to be rising fast. But that’s not exactly what the data shows.

Between 2015 and 2025, the number of prescription items dispensed in England’s community settings (such as GP surgeries and pharmacies) has grown-but only slightly. In 2015-16, around 1.1 billion prescription items were issued. By 2024-25, that number had reached 1.26 billion. ^1,2

So, while there has been growth, it’s much slower than in the past. And it’s happening despite a rise in demand for healthcare.

Let’s take a closer look at what’s going on-and why it matters for patients and healthcare professionals alike.

What’s Causing the Slowdown in Prescription Growth?

1. Efforts to Cut Down on Unnecessary Prescriptions

In the past, many people were prescribed medicines that offered little benefit, or that could be bought over the counter. Think vitamins, homeopathic remedies, and some types of painkillers or antibiotics. Starting around 2017, NHS England began a crackdown on low-value prescribing. ³

These national guidelines encouraged GPs to:

• Avoid prescribing items that aren't clinically effective
• Reduce repeat prescriptions unless necessary
• Think twice before giving antibiotics for mild illnesses

The goal? Free up NHS resources, reduce side effects and resistance (especially with antibiotics), and make room in the budget for medicines that really work.

2. Better Digital Systems and Medicines Reviews

The NHS has also introduced digital prescribing tools and encouraged more frequent medication reviews. ⁵ This helps:

• Avoid duplicating prescriptions
• Spot outdated or inappropriate medicines
• Improve how long-term medications are managed

This approach is often called “medicines optimisation.” It’s not about cutting costs for the sake of it-it’s about getting the best outcomes for patients with the fewest possible medications.

What About Drug Costs?

Even though prescription numbers are growing slowly, the cost of those prescriptions has risen sharply.

• In 2015-16, the NHS spent around £9.2 billion on community prescriptions.
• By 2024-25, that figure had climbed to £11.2 billion. ^2,6

That’s an extra £2 billion-despite only about 160 million more prescription items being issued.

Why are costs rising faster than prescription counts?

It comes down to the kinds of medicines being used.

High-Cost Drugs for Serious Conditions

Modern medicine has made big advances in treatments for complex and life-threatening illnesses. But those drugs often come with a high price tag.

Some examples include:

• SGLT2 inhibitors like dapagliflozin, used for diabetes and heart failure
• Biologic medicines like adalimumab, used to treat autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis
• Cancer treatments like nivolumab, a type of immunotherapy

These drugs are expensive, even though they’re only used by small numbers of patients. ^6,7 They represent cutting-edge care-but they also increase NHS costs.

Cardiovascular Drugs Still Dominate

Despite all these newer treatments, the most commonly prescribed drugs are still those for heart health and blood pressure.

In 2024-25, cardiovascular medications made up about 30% of all prescription items. ² That’s nearly 380 million prescriptions for heart-related conditions in a single year!

One medication in particular stands out: atorvastatin, a statin used to lower cholesterol. It was prescribed over 73 million times in 2024-25 alone. ⁸

A Big Win: Fewer Antibiotics

One of the most positive trends in NHS prescribing is the steady decline in antibiotic use. This is thanks to national campaigns around antimicrobial stewardship-making sure antibiotics are only used when truly necessary. ⁹

This helps:

• Prevent antibiotic resistance (a serious global health threat)
• Ensure antibiotics still work for serious infections
• Educate the public about when antibiotics are helpful (and when they’re not)

In a previous era where antibiotics were dshed out like smarties for everything from acne to a common cold, it seems like finally the tide is turning and we now know that antiobiotics are really not required for most conditions. Where the body can fight naturally, and for viruses, there really is no need for such heavy prescribing. Immune health is key from a lifestyle perspective, and sensible prescribing by the medical profession. 

We also know about the damaging effects that antiobiotics have on the microbiome in our gut. They kill bacteria very effectively, but we need the good bacteria in our gut as part of our immune health. 

What Does This Mean for Patients?

1. Fewer, Smarter Prescriptions

You may notice that GPs and pharmacists are now more careful about prescribing. Rather than handing out lots of medications, they’re focusing on giving the right drug, at the right time, for the right reason.

This helps:

• Reduce side effects
• Avoid drug interactions
• Improve adherence (people are more likely to take medicines that are necessary and explained clearly)

2. More Expensive, But More Targeted Treatments

If you or someone you care for has a complex condition like cancer, autoimmune disease, or diabetes, chances are the treatments involved are newer and more costly. But these treatments are often more effective and can significantly improve quality of life.

And for Physiotherapists and Rehab Teams?

Prescription trends have direct effects on other areas of care-especially physiotherapy.

For example:

• Patients on fewer but more targeted medications may be more stable and cooperative in rehab.
• Polypharmacy (taking 5+ medications) is being reviewed more often, reducing risks like falls, dizziness, and fatigue during therapy.
• Newer drugs (like biologics or SGLT2 inhibitors) can interact with exercise, hydration, or energy levels, so physiotherapists must stay informed.

In short: knowing what medicines a patient is on-and understanding what they do-is now a core part of physiotherapy practice.

So… Are Prescriptions Rising or Falling?

The answer is: a little of both.

• Prescription numbers have grown modestly-from 1.1 billion to 1.26 billion in 10 years.
• Prescription costs have grown significantly-from £9.2 billion to £11.2 billion.
• What’s changed most is the type and value of medicines being used.

The NHS is moving away from handing out large numbers of low-impact drugs. Instead, it’s focusing on evidence-based, value-for-money prescribing.

A Smarter Way to Prescribe

Between 2015 and 2025, NHS prescription trends have shifted to reflect better planning, greater scrutiny, and advances in medicine.

While the number of prescription items hasn’t exploded, the complexity and cost of the treatments being used has. For patients, this means more targeted, effective care. For healthcare providers, it means staying alert, informed, and ready to work across disciplines to manage care safely and efficiently.

References

1. NHS Digital. (2016). Prescriptions Dispensed in the Community – Statistics for England, 2015–16.
   https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/prescriptions-dispensed-in-the-community

2. NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA). (2025). Prescription Cost Analysis – England 2024/25.
   https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/statistical-collections/prescription-cost-analysis-england

3. NHS England. (2019). Items which should not be routinely prescribed in primary care: Guidance for CCGs.
   https://www.england.nhs.uk/medicines/items-which-should-not-be-routinely-prescribed

4. The King’s Fund. (2022). What is happening to NHS spending on medicines?
   https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/publications/nhs-spending-on-medicines

5. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). (2015). Medicines Optimisation: NG5.
   https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng5

6. NHS Digital. (2016). Prescription Cost Analysis – England 2015/16.
   https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/prescription-cost-analysis/prescription-cost-analysis-england-2015-16

7. NICE. Technology Appraisals and Guidance.
   https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/published?type=ta

8. NHSBSA. (2025). Atorvastatin – Prescription Volume and Cost Trends.
   https://openprescribing.net/chemical/0212000AA/ (via OpenPrescribing)

9. UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). (2023). English Surveillance Programme for Antimicrobial Utilisation and Resistance (ESPAUR) Report 2023.
   https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/english-surveillance-programme-antimicrobial-utilisation-and-resistance-espaur-report