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GP Prescribing Intensity in Herefordshire and Worcestershire

Real NHSBSA prescribing data for NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire 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 Herefordshire and Worcestershire?

In March 2026, Herefordshire and Worcestershire had 54.0 antibiotic, 130.8 antidepressant and 32.7 opioid items per 1,000 registered patients, giving a Gera Prescribing Intensity Index of 49.6/100 (rank 18 of 42), close to England average, per NHSBSA EPD data.

Gera Prescribing Intensity Index49.6 / 100Herefordshire and Worcestershire ranks 18 of 42 ICBs — close to England average across antibiotic, antidepressant and opioid prescribing. GPII 100 = highest intensity (North East and North Cumbria); GPII 0 = lowest (North West London).How this index is calculated
Herefordshire and Worcestershire — prescribing rates vs England average, March 2026 (NHSBSA EPD, OGL v3.0)
CategoryHerefordshire and Worcestershire rateEngland ratevs NationalTotal items
Antibiotics (BNF ch05)54.0 /1k48.8 /1k+5.244,992
Antidepressants (§04.03)130.8 /1k128.5 /1k+2.3109,013
Opioid analgesics (§04.07.02)32.7 /1k29.8 /1k+2.827,224
Registered patients833,17863,766,671
GPII (0–100)49.6 / 100≈42.6 (England equiv.)Rank 18 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.

Herefordshire and Worcestershire

NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care Board

49.6
GPII / 100

Herefordshire and Worcestershire is close to England average across the three key prescribing chapters — ranked 18 of 42 ICBs by combined prescribing intensity (March 2026).

CategoryThis ICB /1kEngland /1kvs National
Antibiotics54.048.8+5.2
Antidepressants130.8128.5+2.3
Opioid analgesics32.729.8+2.8
44,992
antibiotic items
109,013
antidepressant items
27,224
opioid items

Registered patients: 833,178 (QOF HYP listSize 2024/25). Data: NHSBSA EPD March 2026, OGL v3.0. Full Herefordshire and Worcestershire page →

How Herefordshire and Worcestershire compares to other ICBs

GPII rank 18 of 42. ICBs near the top of the intensity scale:

View all 42 ICBs →

GP prescribing in Herefordshire and Worcestershire: frequently asked questions

What is the antibiotic prescribing rate in Herefordshire and Worcestershire?
In March 2026, Herefordshire and Worcestershire had 54.0 antibiotic items per 1,000 registered patients (BNF chapter 05: Infections), from 44,992 total antibiotic items across 833,178 registered patients. The England average is 48.8 per 1,000; Herefordshire and Worcestershire is +5.2 vs national.
How does Herefordshire and Worcestershire's antidepressant prescribing compare to England?
Herefordshire and Worcestershire had 130.8 antidepressant items per 1,000 patients (BNF §04.03) in March 2026, compared to the England average of 128.5 per 1,000 — +2.3 vs national. Total antidepressant items: 109,013.
What is the opioid prescribing rate in Herefordshire and Worcestershire?
Herefordshire and Worcestershire prescribed 32.7 opioid analgesic items per 1,000 patients (BNF §04.07.02) in March 2026. The England average is 29.8 per 1,000; Herefordshire and Worcestershire is +2.8 vs national. Total opioid items: 27,224.
What is Herefordshire and Worcestershire's GPII and what does it mean?
Herefordshire and Worcestershire scores 49.6/100 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). Herefordshire and Worcestershire ranks 18 of 42. See the methodology for the full formula.

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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).