Demand for prescriptions increases - report

The number of prescriptions dispensed rose by 2.7% according to the report

The Committee for Health and Social Care has published the Prescribing Support Unit's (PSU) annual report.

It looks at the trends in prescribing, and the likely reasons for those, over the year to 31 December 2023.

One of the key findings was the number of prescriptions dispensed in 2023 rising by 2.7% to 1,695,074 compared to 1,650,969 in 2022.

Geraldine O’Riordan, Prescribing Advisor, said that making "better lifestyle choices" could reduce, delay, avoid or prevent the need for prescribed drugs.

She said: "Drug costs for conditions that can be prevented and avoided in many cases rose considerably such as Type 2 diabetes.

"Making better lifestyle choices through increasing physical activity and crucially, reducing consumption of energy-dense drinks and foods, can reduce, delay, avoid or prevent the need for prescribed drugs.

"Making healthier choices allows us to live longer and better lives. It will reduce costs to the individual and to the taxpayer."