Anti-depressant data published

HALTON has the highest rate of anti-depressant prescriptions in Cheshire, according to in-depth analysis

xasol, an analytic database provider, has visualised prescribing across the country in the form of heat map for the first time.

Data from NHS Digital and NHS Business Services Authority has been analysed by the firm.

It captures every GP prescription dispensed at all pharmacies across England in the past six years.

In Halton last year, the figures showed that there were 1.44 prescriptions per head for antidepressants.

The rate is higher than the 1.33 in Cheshire West And Chester, 1.28 in Cheshire East, and 1.16 for Warrington.

However, the borough also has the lowest population out of the four local authorities in Cheshire with 126,500.

By contrast Cheshire West And Chester’s is 333,900, Cheshire East’s is 375,400, and Warrington’s population stands at 207,700.

The research findings include that in 1991, English pharmacies handed over nine million prescriptions. In 2001 it was 24.3m, in 2011 it was 46m and it is now 64m prescriptions.

A large regional variation across the country was discovered through the analysis with a clear link to deprivation in the North and East of England.

The highest prescribing district in the country is Blackpool, the only one in England where more than two prescriptions per person per year were given out by GPs.

In the North West, the number of prescriptions given out per person in 2016 varies from 1.15 in West Lancashire to 2.11 in Blackpool, the district with the highest antidepressant prescrib- ing in the whole country.

Exasol’s chief marketing officer Sean Jackson said: “When analysing the data, we can see that the prescribing of antidepressants has increased by a large amount in recent years.

“However, this is only one part of the story: when we delve deeper, we find that the data can uncover further information such as geographic differences across the country.

“With the right data and the right technology, you can turn any problem into a data problem. People suffering from mental health problems need support and respect, these insights can direct help to the right places and it highlights where more resources are necessary. By uncovering insights using big data, it shows the factual reality of the problem.

“However, to be able to analyse such enormous data-sets requires the right tool for the job. We hope the findings will help to raise awareness of this important issue.”