See also: Indicators / Comparators User Guide

The Nurse Prescribing Formulary, Prescribing Indicators, Volume Comparators and Cost Comparators reports are produced automatically in June (to cover the most recent financial year) and in December (to cover the most recently available twelve month period). The reports are also produced for the previous year and a three year comparison report.

Each report is produced at HA, PCG and PRACTICE level and shows the performance of each HA, PCG and PRACTICE comparatively and over time. The graphs / data can also be compared with regional or socio-economic cluster comparisons.

Users with access to the NATIONAL level (Prescribing Support Unit and the Principle Pharmaceutical Officer) will be able to view the regional comparisons with any region selected from their country. They will also be able to view socio-economic cluster comparisons with any HA selected from their country. They will also be able to view PCG data within the HAs.

Users with access to the REGIONAL level (identified advisors within the regional office) will be able to view a regional comparison only with HAs in their region. They will also be able to view socio-economic cluster comparisons with any HA selected from their region. They will also be able to view PCG data within the HAs.

Users with access to the HA level (identified Medical and Pharmaceutical advisors within the relevant HA) will be able to view a regional comparison only with the HAs in their region. They will also be able to view socio-economic cluster comparisons with their own HA. They will also be able to view PCG data within the HA and PRACTICE data within the PCGs.

Users with access to the PCG level will be able to view their own PCG data together with PRACTICE data for those PRACTICES within the PCG.

NB Indicator values including NIC are now shown in pounds (£) instead of pence.

Cost Comparators - "Percentage Cost New Drugs"

For this indicator, the definition of a new drug will be as specified for PACT in the Technical Guide:

"A drug is considered to be new if it is being monitored by the Committee on Safety of Medicines (black triangle drugs in the BNF). It will continue to be classified as new for a period of three years from the receipt, by the PPA, of the first prescription for it."

Each graph will include new drugs applicable to the year reflected by the graph (eg new drugs incorporated in the April 1997 to March 1998 graph will be drugs held as new during the reporting period).