2026-03-28
PLDR Prescribing Indicators Updated to Q4 2025
All 12 small-area prescribing indicators on the PLDR platform have been refreshed with data through Q4 2025, extending the longitudinal record for England's GP prescribing patterns at LSOA level.
Overview
The Place-based Longitudinal Data Resource (PLDR) has updated all 12 prescribing indicators to include data through Q4 2025. These datasets provide small-area estimates of GP prescribing rates — standardised to registered patient populations — at Lower Super Output Area (LSOA) level across England, derived from NHS Digital’s open Chemical-level Prescribing data.
This update extends the longitudinal coverage of each indicator and makes the series available for analyses spanning the pre-pandemic period through to the end of 2025, including the full COVID-19 pandemic and recovery window.
Updated Indicators
| Code | Indicator | Link |
|---|---|---|
| P_1_07 | Antidepressants | View dataset |
| P_1_08 | Statins | View dataset |
| P_1_09 | Asthma – Bronchodilators | View dataset |
| P_1_10 | Anti-psychotics | View dataset |
| P_1_11 | Anti-coagulants | View dataset |
| P_1_12 | Opioid analgesics | View dataset |
| P_1_14 | Aspirin | View dataset |
| P_1_15 | Clopidogrel | View dataset |
| P_1_16 | Pragusel | View dataset |
| P_1_17 | Ticagrelor | View dataset |
| P_1_18 | Oral Anticoagulants | View dataset |
| P_1_19 | Orlistat | View dataset |
What These Indicators Measure
Each indicator expresses the volume of a specific drug class dispensed by GP practices, aggregated and standardised to LSOA level using registered patient denominators from NHS Digital. The resulting rates allow direct comparison across neighbourhoods of varying population size, and tracking of prescribing trends over time.
The suite covers a clinically important range of therapeutic areas:
- Cardiovascular — statins, aspirin, clopidogrel, ticagrelor, pragusel, anti-coagulants, oral anticoagulants
- Mental health — antidepressants, anti-psychotics
- Respiratory — asthma bronchodilators
- Pain management — opioid analgesics
- Weight management — orlistat
Potential Uses
- Longitudinal analysis of prescribing trends before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic
- Deprivation gradient analyses linking prescribing rates to the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) or the Small Area Vulnerability Index (SAVI)
- Contextual covariates in models using linked administrative health data
- Input to composite health indicators such as the Small Area Mental Health Index (SAMHI) (antidepressants series)
Accessing the Data
All datasets are freely available via the PLDR data catalogue. No registration is required for open access indicators.