Regular Reports and Support Tools
The RDTC produce a wide range of regular reports and support tools available to stakeholders with a registered account. Please register or login here.
If you have any questions, feedback or suggestions about these publications please get in touch via our email address nuth.nyrdtc.rxsupp@nhs.net.
Financial Headlines Reports
These prescribing data reports monitor the financial impact of primary care prescribing at National, Regional, Integrated Care Board and Sub-Integrated Care Board level. We now also provide on request a summary report that extracts the headline data from these reports. A free version available for download summarising the national regional position can be found on our new Financial Headlines page.
Stakeholders with a registered account can find copies of the report for their organisation here.
Alternatively to obtain a copy of the summary report at ICB or SICBL level please contact us via nuth.nyrdtc.rxsupp@nhs.net.
| Title | Overview | Publication anticipated | Last published |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Financial Headlines | Monitor budget performance based on total prescribing at sub-ICB and PCN level for the financial year to date | Monthly, approx. 7 working days after ePACT2 data published | 23/04/2026 |
| Top 50 BNF sections and drugs | Top 50 BNF sections and drugs in terms of spend at ICB and SICBL level for the financial year to date, with a focus on cost and item growth | Q1 2026/2027 | 27/04/2026 |
| Price Concessionary Bulletin | Predicted cost impact of drug price changes, both through the Price Concessions list and monthly Drug Tariff cost variations | May 2026 | 09/04/2026 |
| Drug Tariff Monitor | Predicted cost impact of Drug Tariff category A, M and C price changes on primary care spending | Q1 2026/2027 | 27/02/2026 |
NHS Medicines Optimisation Opportunities
These reports highlight the current position of the ICBs across the North of England in relation to the 16 priorities laid out in the NHSE published guidance titled “National medicines optimisation opportunities 2024/25”. It will incorporate the metrics that are being developed nationally, but also include metrics which are designed to support medicines optimisation opportunities across the North.
| Title | Overview | Publication anticipated | Last published |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low priority prescribing – MO opportunities | Looks at prescribing trends for items and cost, for those items which should not be routinely prescribed in primary care, now termed Low priority prescribing | Q1 2026/2027 | 18/03/2026 |
| Blood Glucose Test Strips – MO opportunities | Focuses on the appropriate prescribing and supply of blood glucose and ketone meters and testing strips | Q1 2026/2027 | 23/03/2026 |
| Opioids – MO opportunities | Focuses on reducing opioid use in chronic non-cancer pain | Q1 2026/2027 | 13/04/2026 |
| Sodium Valproate – MO opportunities | Focuses on improving valproate safety | Q1 2026/2027 | 02/04/2026 |
| Antidepressants – MO opportunities | Focuses on addressing inappropriate antidepressant prescribing | Q1 2026/2027 | 31/03/2026 |
| Cardiovascular – MO opportunities | Identifying patients with atrial fibrillation and using best value direct-acting oral anticoagulants Identifying patients with hypertension and starting antihypertensives where appropriate Optimising lipid management for cardiovascular disease prevention | Q1 2026/2027 | 17/03/2026 |
| Polypharmacy – MO opportunities | Focuses on addressing problematic polypharmacy | Q1 2026/2027 | 26/03/2026 |
| Inhaler Carbon Footprint – MO opportunities | Focuses on improving respiratory outcomes while reducing the carbon emissions from inhalers | Q4 2025/2026 | 18/11/2025 |
| Antibacterial – MO opportunities | Reducing course length of antimicrobial prescribing Switching intravenous antibiotics to oral | Q4 2025/2026 | 20/02/2026 |
| Regional Prescribing Position North East Yorkshire Region. | Provides an overview of the prescribing position in the region, progress made in the National Medicines Optimisation Opportunities and wider focus on prescribing for the North East and Yorkshire ICBs | October 2025 | 11/09/2025 |
| Regional prescribing position; North West region. | Provides an overview of the prescribing position in the region, progress made in the National Medicines Optimisation Opportunities and wider focus on prescribing for the North West ICBs | November 2025 | 08/10/2025 |
| NICE TA medicines uptake – MO opportunities | This dashboard aims to provide Integrated Care Systems with uptake rates of some NICE approved technologies, in order that they can use this data to work towards removing barriers to inequitable uptake for their whole population | Q4 2025/2026 | 17/09/2025 |
Therapeutic reports
These reports looks at prescribing trends in primary care in the most impactful therapeutic areas at SICBL and ICB level. Prescribing data is analysed along with a range of additional datasets such as QOF registers, and Hospital Episodes Statistics data to measure prescribing to outcomes.
| Title | Overview | Publication anticipated | Last published |
|---|---|---|---|
| Antibacterial drugs | Focus on prescribing volume of antibacterial agents such as cephalosporins, quinolones, macrolides and tetracyclines | Q1 2026/2027 | 10/02/2026 |
| Cardiovascular System | Focus on anticoagulants, antiplatelets and lipid-regulating. Also uses HES data to measure prescribing to outcomes. | Q1 2026/2027 | 10/02/2026 |
| Drugs for Dementia | Focus on drugs used in dementia and low strength antipsychotics | Q1 2026/2027 | 10/02/2026 |
| Drugs used in Diabetes | Focus on insulins, anti-diabetic drugs and diagnostic & monitoring devices. Also uses HES data to measure prescribing to outcomes. | Q1 2026/2027 | 10/02/2026 |
| Pain Management | Focus on Opioid and Non-opioid analgesics, Neuropathic pain, Antimigraine drugs and Osteoarthritis. | Q2 2026/2027 | 10/02/2026 |
| Respiratory System | Focus on bronchodilators and corticosteroids. Also uses HES data to measure prescribing to outcomes. | Q1 2026/2027 | 10/02/2026 |
Prescriber Support Tools
A range of resources designed to aid prescribers in their decision making.
| Title | Overview | Publication anticipated | Last published |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost Comparison Charts | The charts included within this report are organised by BNF classification (legacy) and show comparative costs at the NHS basic price1,2 for selected agents. | Q2 2026/2027 | 29/04/2026 |
| Medicines Value Calculators | These calculators illustrate potential savings from selected changes in prescribing | Q4 2025/2026 | 05/11/2025 |
| Inhaler Carbon Impact Assessment Tool | The NHS Long Term Plan outlines that 4% of the total NHS carbon footprint savings are expected to be realised through a ‘shift to lower carbon inhalers’ equivalent to a 50% reduction in the inhaler carbon footprint. 3,4 The RDTC has developed an inhaler carbon impact assessment tool in response to these targets. | Q4 2025/2026 | 18/11/2025 |
| Monthly Formulary Amendments | Summary of issues impacting local formularies, including NICE guidance, national consultations on guidance in development, Drug Safety Updates, NPSA alerts, and discontinued medicines | Monthly, before the 10th of the month | 24/04/2026 |
| Monthly Horizon Scanning Report | Summary of new products and licenses, significant new guidance, and decisions from recognised national and regional bodies | Monthly, before the 16th of the month | 24/04/2026 |
| Annual Horizon Scanning Report | Each year the RDTC considers the information published in the SPS Prescribing Outlook series, and from this information highlights developments that are likely to have significant impact on primary care prescribing budgets, over the coming 12 – 15 months. The Annual Horizon Scanning report highlights relevant national guidance and policies, expected cost pressures, and anticipated risks | Annually, in mid December | 19/12/2025 |
| References | 1. NHS Business Services Authority (NHS BSA). Drug tariff. 2. NHS BSA. Dictionary of medicines and devices (dM+d). 3. NHSE. NHS Long Term Plan. 4. Faculty of public health special interest group – sustainable development. The NHS: Carbon Footprint. |