Most independents know their own script volumes but have no idea how they compare with the pharmacy down the road. There is a public figure that answers that question for every pharmacy in England: the number of patients who have nominated it for their electronic prescriptions. This guide explains what the data is, how to read it and how to use it to spot problems and opportunities early.
What the data is
When a patient nominates a pharmacy, their electronic prescriptions are sent there automatically. NHS England publishes the number of active nominations held by every dispensing contractor in England, along with each pharmacy’s ODS code, name, address, postcode, local pharmaceutical committee (LPC), NHS England region, and the change since the previous report. The report is now published monthly.
Nominations are not the same as items dispensed — a nominated patient might only need one prescription a year — but they are the clearest public signal of how many patients regard a pharmacy as theirs, and they move slowly enough that changes are meaningful.
Three comparisons worth making
- Against your immediate neighbours. The pharmacies in your postcode district are the ones your patients could easily choose instead. Your share of nominations among them is a better measure than your raw count.
- Against pharmacies of a similar size in your LPC area. They face the same GP practices, commissioning and local services as you. If similar pharmacies are growing and you are flat, the cause is probably something you can change.
- Against yourself over time. One report is a snapshot. Twelve months tell you whether you are winning or losing patients, and whether something you changed — a new website, an online nomination form, a delivery service — made a difference.
How to read a change
Small movements of a few nominations either way are normal. Patients move house, die or switch to a distance-selling pharmacy. Look instead for:
- A steady decline over several months, especially while neighbours hold steady. That usually points to a service or access problem: waiting times, stock issues, or a competitor offering something you don’t.
- A sudden drop after a GP practice changes its process or a nearby surgery merges.
- A jump at a competitor, which often follows a new delivery service, a new website with online nominations, or extended opening hours.
Turning the numbers into action
- If you are losing share locally, make nominating you as easy as possible: an online nomination form, a counter ask at every handout, and a reason to choose you (delivery, a patient app, ready-to-collect messages).
- If you are the largest pharmacy in your district, protect it. Your patients are the ones competitors and online pharmacies are trying to win.
- If similar pharmacies in your area are growing faster, look at what they offer online. Their website is usually the quickest thing to compare.
Where to find your figures
PharmGrowth publishes a free page for every pharmacy in England built from the NHS data: nominations, monthly history, your rank in your town and LPC area, and a competitor table for your postcode district. Look up your pharmacy, or browse the national leaderboard to see who is growing fastest.