GP Prescribing Intensity in Cheshire and Merseyside
Real NHSBSA prescribing data for NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board, March 2026 — antibiotic, antidepressant and opioid items per 1,000 patients, plus the Gera Prescribing Intensity Index (GPII).
What are the antibiotic, antidepressant and opioid prescribing rates in Cheshire and Merseyside?
In March 2026, Cheshire and Merseyside had 53.9 antibiotic, 164.8 antidepressant and 39.8 opioid items per 1,000 registered patients, giving a Gera Prescribing Intensity Index of 64/100 (rank 8 of 42), above England average, per NHSBSA EPD data.
| Category | Cheshire and Merseyside rate | England rate | vs National | Total items |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antibiotics (BNF ch05) | 53.9 /1k | 48.8 /1k | +5.0 | 150,984 |
| Antidepressants (§04.03) | 164.8 /1k | 128.5 /1k | +36.3 | 461,712 |
| Opioid analgesics (§04.07.02) | 39.8 /1k | 29.8 /1k | +10.0 | 111,516 |
| Registered patients | 2,802,101 | 63,766,671 | — | — |
| GPII (0–100) | 64 / 100 | ≈42.6 (England equiv.) | Rank 8 of 42 | — |
Compare prescribing rates across ICBs
Pick any Integrated Care Board to see its antibiotic, antidepressant and opioid rates vs the England average, with GPII rank.
Cheshire and Merseyside
NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board
Cheshire and Merseyside is above England average across the three key prescribing chapters — ranked 8 of 42 ICBs by combined prescribing intensity (March 2026).
| Category | This ICB /1k | England /1k | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| Antibiotics | 53.9 | 48.8 | +5.0 |
| Antidepressants | 164.8 | 128.5 | +36.3 |
| Opioid analgesics | 39.8 | 29.8 | +10.0 |
Registered patients: 2,802,101 (QOF HYP listSize 2024/25). Data: NHSBSA EPD March 2026, OGL v3.0. Full Cheshire and Merseyside page →
How Cheshire and Merseyside compares to other ICBs
GPII rank 8 of 42. ICBs near the top of the intensity scale:
GP prescribing in Cheshire and Merseyside: frequently asked questions
- What is the antibiotic prescribing rate in Cheshire and Merseyside?
- In March 2026, Cheshire and Merseyside had 53.9 antibiotic items per 1,000 registered patients (BNF chapter 05: Infections), from 150,984 total antibiotic items across 2,802,101 registered patients. The England average is 48.8 per 1,000; Cheshire and Merseyside is +5.0 vs national.
- How does Cheshire and Merseyside's antidepressant prescribing compare to England?
- Cheshire and Merseyside had 164.8 antidepressant items per 1,000 patients (BNF §04.03) in March 2026, compared to the England average of 128.5 per 1,000 — +36.3 vs national. Total antidepressant items: 461,712.
- What is the opioid prescribing rate in Cheshire and Merseyside?
- Cheshire and Merseyside prescribed 39.8 opioid analgesic items per 1,000 patients (BNF §04.07.02) in March 2026. The England average is 29.8 per 1,000; Cheshire and Merseyside is +10.0 vs national. Total opioid items: 111,516.
- What is Cheshire and Merseyside's GPII and what does it mean?
- Cheshire and Merseyside scores 64/100 on the Gera Prescribing Intensity Index — above England average. The GPII combines antibiotic, antidepressant and opioid rates (each normalised against the England average) into a single 0–100 score. GPII 100 = NHS North East and North Cumbria (highest intensity); GPII 0 = NHS North West London (lowest). Cheshire and Merseyside ranks 8 of 42. See the methodology for the full formula.
Concerned about your prescriptions or health trends in Cheshire and Merseyside?
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Contains public sector information published by NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) and licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: NHS Business Services Authority — English Prescribing Dataset (EPD) with SNOMED Code, March 2026 (March 2026, published May 2026).