Data & disclaimers

Last updated: 9 June 2026

This page explains where the data shown in RxLens comes from, how it should and should not be interpreted, and the limits of what RxLens can tell you. Please read it before relying on any figures.

1. Source of the data

RxLens is built on the Secondary Care Medicines Data (SCMD), published by NHS England and the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA). SCMD is processed pharmacy stock-control data, in a standardised format, from all NHS Acute, Teaching, Specialist, Mental Health and Community Trusts in England. It records the monthly quantities of medicines issued by NHS Trust pharmacies, together with an indicative cost.

The source data is licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. RxLens processes, structures and presents this information; we do not alter the underlying values other than to aggregate and format them for analysis.

2. RxLens is independent of the NHS

RxLens is an independent analytics service provided by Nexcea Limited. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or connected to NHS England, the NHS Business Services Authority, or any NHS body. References to the NHS and to NHS Trusts are factual references to the source of the data only.

3. Costs are indicative only

The cost figures shown in RxLens are indicative and do not represent the actual price paid by NHS Trusts.

Actual costs cannot be shown because NHS hospital pricing contracts and NICE Patient Access Schemes are confidential. The indicative cost is derived from current medicines pricing data held in NHSBSA data systems (the Common Drug Reference and the Dictionary of Medicines and Devices, dm+d), calculated to Virtual Medicinal Product (VMP) level, using:

• community pharmacy reimbursement prices for generic medicines; and
• list prices for branded medicines.

Care should be taken when interpreting and analysing the indicative cost, as it does not reflect the net actual cost to NHS Trusts. Real costs will differ — often substantially — because of confidential discounts, rebates and procurement agreements applied when hospitals purchase medicines. Indicative cost should be used to understand relative scale and trends, not to determine actual expenditure.

4. Recent data is provisional

The most recent months in RxLens are provisional. Provisional data reflects the best available information at the time of publication and is subject to change.

The data is refreshed at the close of each financial year to include backtracking adjustments, and is then finalised to provide validated and complete figures for each reporting period. A complete annual refresh is provided approximately two months after the close of the financial year (typically at the end of May), after which the finalised dataset becomes the definitive record for that period. As a result, figures for recent months may change when finalised data is incorporated. RxLens updates to the latest available data when it is published.

5. How medicines are identified

Medicines are standardised using SNOMED CT and the Dictionary of Medicines and Devices (dm+d), at Virtual Medicinal Product (VMP) level. This means products are grouped according to these standards; the granularity available reflects the source data.

6. Not professional advice

RxLens is an information and analytics tool. Nothing in it constitutes medical, clinical, commercial, financial, legal or professional advice, and it must not be used as the sole basis for any clinical, prescribing, commercial or investment decision. You are responsible for verifying any figure before relying on it.

7. No warranty

While we take care in processing the data, RxLens is provided "as is" and "as available". To the fullest extent permitted by law, Nexcea Limited makes no warranties about the accuracy, completeness, timeliness or fitness for any particular purpose of the data or analysis, including because of the indicative and provisional nature of the source data described above.

8. Questions

If you have a question about the data or these disclaimers, contact us at rxlens@nexcea.com.