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The number of prescription items dispensed in England has increased by almost 60 per cent since 2003 but the overall net ingredient cost has risen by just 15 per cent over the same period, according to data released by the Health & Social Care Information Centre.

Over 1.03bn items were prescribed in 2013 compared to 649.7m in 2003. The cost of anti-depressant drugs was £282.1m, a 34 per cent (£71m) increase from 2012. Atorvastatin had the greatest decrease in cost of any drug last year and also the greatest increase in the number of items dispensed €“ up from 12.8m to 18.3m.