Over 1 billion prescriptions dispensed in a year €“ or 1,900 a minute

The number of prescription items dispensed in the community per year topped one billion for the first time in 2012 €“ equating to 2.7million a day, or over 1,900 a minute, according to a report bythe Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC).  The report also shows that the 1000.5 million items dispensed in England in 2012 represents a rise of almost two thirds (62.2 per cent, or 383.5 million) compared to a decade ago. Prescription items, which relate to individual prescription medicines (eg a course of tablets, cream or inhaler), listed on a single prescription form, have also risen