GP Prescribing Intensity in Greater Manchester
Real NHSBSA prescribing data for NHS Greater Manchester 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 Greater Manchester?
In March 2026, Greater Manchester had 50.4 antibiotic, 147.8 antidepressant and 33.2 opioid items per 1,000 registered patients, giving a Gera Prescribing Intensity Index of 51.8/100 (rank 15 of 42), close to England average, per NHSBSA EPD data.
| Category | Greater Manchester rate | England rate | vs National | Total items |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antibiotics (BNF ch05) | 50.4 /1k | 48.8 /1k | +1.6 | 166,396 |
| Antidepressants (§04.03) | 147.8 /1k | 128.5 /1k | +19.3 | 487,995 |
| Opioid analgesics (§04.07.02) | 33.2 /1k | 29.8 /1k | +3.4 | 109,637 |
| Registered patients | 3,301,785 | 63,766,671 | — | — |
| GPII (0–100) | 51.8 / 100 | ≈42.6 (England equiv.) | Rank 15 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.
Greater Manchester
NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board
Greater Manchester is close to England average across the three key prescribing chapters — ranked 15 of 42 ICBs by combined prescribing intensity (March 2026).
| Category | This ICB /1k | England /1k | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| Antibiotics | 50.4 | 48.8 | +1.6 |
| Antidepressants | 147.8 | 128.5 | +19.3 |
| Opioid analgesics | 33.2 | 29.8 | +3.4 |
Registered patients: 3,301,785 (QOF HYP listSize 2024/25). Data: NHSBSA EPD March 2026, OGL v3.0. Full Greater Manchester page →
How Greater Manchester compares to other ICBs
GPII rank 15 of 42. ICBs near the top of the intensity scale:
GP prescribing in Greater Manchester: frequently asked questions
- What is the antibiotic prescribing rate in Greater Manchester?
- In March 2026, Greater Manchester had 50.4 antibiotic items per 1,000 registered patients (BNF chapter 05: Infections), from 166,396 total antibiotic items across 3,301,785 registered patients. The England average is 48.8 per 1,000; Greater Manchester is +1.6 vs national.
- How does Greater Manchester's antidepressant prescribing compare to England?
- Greater Manchester had 147.8 antidepressant items per 1,000 patients (BNF §04.03) in March 2026, compared to the England average of 128.5 per 1,000 — +19.3 vs national. Total antidepressant items: 487,995.
- What is the opioid prescribing rate in Greater Manchester?
- Greater Manchester prescribed 33.2 opioid analgesic items per 1,000 patients (BNF §04.07.02) in March 2026. The England average is 29.8 per 1,000; Greater Manchester is +3.4 vs national. Total opioid items: 109,637.
- What is Greater Manchester's GPII and what does it mean?
- Greater Manchester scores 51.8/100 on the Gera Prescribing Intensity Index — close to 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). Greater Manchester ranks 15 of 42. See the methodology for the full formula.
Concerned about your prescriptions or health trends in Greater Manchester?
GeraClinic connects you with UK-registered GPs online — for prescription reviews, mental health support and pain management. Often available in under 30 minutes, including evenings and weekends.
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).