GP Prescribing Intensity in Somerset
Real NHSBSA prescribing data for NHS Somerset 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 Somerset?
In March 2026, Somerset had 45.6 antibiotic, 125.0 antidepressant and 35.3 opioid items per 1,000 registered patients, giving a Gera Prescribing Intensity Index of 45.8/100 (rank 20 of 42), close to England average, per NHSBSA EPD data.
| Category | Somerset rate | England rate | vs National | Total items |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antibiotics (BNF ch05) | 45.6 /1k | 48.8 /1k | -3.3 | 27,714 |
| Antidepressants (§04.03) | 125.0 /1k | 128.5 /1k | -3.5 | 75,998 |
| Opioid analgesics (§04.07.02) | 35.3 /1k | 29.8 /1k | +5.4 | 21,443 |
| Registered patients | 607,920 | 63,766,671 | — | — |
| GPII (0–100) | 45.8 / 100 | ≈42.6 (England equiv.) | Rank 20 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.
How Somerset compares to other ICBs
GPII rank 20 of 42. ICBs near the top of the intensity scale:
GP prescribing in Somerset: frequently asked questions
- What is the antibiotic prescribing rate in Somerset?
- In March 2026, Somerset had 45.6 antibiotic items per 1,000 registered patients (BNF chapter 05: Infections), from 27,714 total antibiotic items across 607,920 registered patients. The England average is 48.8 per 1,000; Somerset is -3.3 vs national.
- How does Somerset's antidepressant prescribing compare to England?
- Somerset had 125.0 antidepressant items per 1,000 patients (BNF §04.03) in March 2026, compared to the England average of 128.5 per 1,000 — -3.5 vs national. Total antidepressant items: 75,998.
- What is the opioid prescribing rate in Somerset?
- Somerset prescribed 35.3 opioid analgesic items per 1,000 patients (BNF §04.07.02) in March 2026. The England average is 29.8 per 1,000; Somerset is +5.4 vs national. Total opioid items: 21,443.
- What is Somerset's GPII and what does it mean?
- Somerset scores 45.8/100 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). Somerset ranks 20 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).