30 June 2008 - Statistical press release - Family Practitioner Services Report (2006/07)

General Practitioners (GPs) relate to Unrestricted Principals (UPEs) and Salaried GPs. Dentists refer to principal dentists only. Data relates to October 2007 unless otherwise stated.

• In Northern Ireland there were 1,128 General Practitioners (GPs) (up 9% from 1,039 in 1997), 795 dentists (up 34% from 592 in 1997), 610 ophthalmic practitioners (more than doubled from 325 in 1997) and 257 pharmacy contractors.
• There were 362 GP practices, 350 dental practices, 254 ophthalmic practices and 518 pharmacies located throughout Northern Ireland.
• On average there were 65 GPs, 46 dentists, 35 ophthalmic practitioners and 30 pharmacies per 100,000 resident population.
• 17% of all GP practices in Northern Ireland were single-handed.
• The average GP practice list size was 5,063 registered patients while that of a dental practice was 2,515.
• GPs are predominately male, however, there were more female GPs in 2007 (38%) compared to 1997 (29%). Over half (57%) of GPs were aged from 40 to 54 in 2007.
• 46% of dentists were female and 57% were aged under 40.
• 62% of children (aged 0 to 17) and 47% of adults were registered with a dentist.
• 75,072 fillings and 21,414 extractions were carried out on children’s (aged from 0 to12) teeth
• There were 1.83 million people registered with GPs in Northern Ireland. The most common surnames were Kelly, Campbell and Wilson. John was the most common male forename followed by William and James, while Mary was the most common female forename followed by Margaret and Elizabeth.
• The net cost of General Medical Services, paid by the Central Services Agency on behalf of Health Boards in Northern Ireland in 2006/07, was £169.8million.
• In 2006/07, the Gross cost of Dental Payments was £70.8million, the majority of which was for Dental Treatments (£54.4million) of which £16.9million was patient contributions.
• In 2006/07 the total cost of Ophthalmic Services in Northern Ireland was £16.1million.
• In a decade the number of NHS sight tests claimed for increased by 62% from 227,000 in 1997/98 to 367,797 in 2006/07.
• The Gross Cost of Pharmaceutical payments in 2006/07 was £408.8million. The total Net Ingredient Cost (NIC) was £352.9million. This meant the Gross Cost per Person was £226.
• The average cost per prescription item was £13.81, an increase of 30% over a decade from £10.64 in 1997. There were 16.4 million prescription forms in 2006/07 for 29.6 million prescription items. This equates to an average of 16 prescription items per person in 2006/07, an increase of 23% over the decade from 1997 when it was 13.
• The highest number of prescription items were for the ‘Cardiovascular System’ (23.3% of total items), followed by those for the ‘Central Nervous System’ (23.2%) and the ‘Gastro-Intestinal System’ (9%).
• The cost of a prescription was £6.85 from 1st April 2007, a 21% increase over a decade from £5.65 in 1996/97. Also from 1st April 2007 a 4-month pre-payment certificate cost £35.85 while one for a year cost £98.70.

Notes to Editors:

1. This information can also be accessed on the Central Services Agency website
2. The figures in this document have been compiled from data held in the Central Services Agency databases.
3. Further information on statistics provided in this publication can be obtained from the Information and Research Unit within the Family Practitioner Services Directorate of the Central Services Agency (CSA): 2 Franklin Street, Belfast, BT2 8DQ. Tel: 028 9053 5589 / Fax: 028 9023 2340 / E-Mail: infounit@csa.n-i.nhs.uk
4. Media enquiries to DHSSPS Press Office on 028 9052 0571. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.