Freedom of Information Request – Ref: FOI 025-2025
Thank you for your recent Freedom of Information request. Please find our response below.
You asked:
This is an information request relating to NHS Trust buying and supplying paracetamol and ibuprofen.
Please include the following information for the financial years 2022/23, 2023/24 and 2024/25:
1. The total number of individual patients to whom paracetamol and ibuprofen were prescribed by your Trust annually.
Our response:
Ibuprofen from 06/04/2022 to 05/04/2023: 230 prescriptions per patient
Ibuprofen from 06/04/2023 to 05/04/2024: 226 prescriptions per patient
Ibuprofen from 06/04/2024 to 05/04/2025: 268 prescriptions per patient
Paracetamol from 06/04/2022 to 05/04/2023: 581 prescriptions per patient
Paracetamol from 06/04/2023 to 05/04/2024: 645 prescriptions per patient
Paracetamol from 06/04/2024 to 05/04/2025: 733 prescriptions per patient
You asked:
2. The total amount spent by your Trust on supplying prescribed paracetamol and ibuprofen in each of those financial years.
Our response:
We do not hold the information requested.
You asked:
3. If available, a breakdown of the form in which paracetamol was prescribed (e.g., tablets, capsules, liquid suspension, etc.) and associated costs for each form.
Our response:
Please see the link below:
We do not hold the information about the associated costs for each form.
You asked:
4. What are the specific conditions which qualify a patient to be prescribed paracetamol or ibuprofen? Or what is your general policy for qualifying a prescription for paracetamol or ibuprofen?
Our response:
Paracetamol and ibuprofen are commonly used analgesics and antipyretics that are typically indicated for use in any condition requiring treatment of pain and fever.
Paracetamol and ibuprofen are not controlled drugs, therefore their use is directed by the Managing Medication Policy, please see below our policy:
Next steps:
Should you have any queries in relation to our response, please do not hesitate to contact us. If you are unhappy with the response you have received in relation to your request and wish to ask us to review our response, you should write to:
Louise Moss
Head of Legal Services / Associate Director of Corporate Governance
c/o Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust
Edward Jenner Court
1010 Pioneer Avenue
Gloucester Business Park
Brockworth, GL3 4AW
E-mail: louise.moss@ghc.nhs.uk
If you are not content with the outcome of any review, you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) for further advice/guidance. Generally, the ICO will not consider your case unless you have exhausted your enquiries with the Trust which should include considering the use of the Trust’s formal complaints procedure. The ICO can be contacted at: The Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF.