Somerset has been ranked as the 17th highest region in England for painkiller prescriptions according to a recent study. The research conducted by private healthcare experts, MyTribeInsurance, analysed the prescribing rates of analgesics, also known as painkillers, across all NHS Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) in the country.

NHS Somerset Integrated Care Board, with over 600,026 patients under its care, prescribed painkillers 88.55 times per 1,000 patients each month. Between April 2018 and March 2023, the total count of painkiller prescriptions stood at 3,117,536. These prescriptions incurred a significant cost to the health board, amounting to a substantial £18,043,678.59 over the five-year period.

The study revealed that the painkiller capital of England is the North East and North Cumbria ICB, with painkillers being prescribed 142.69 times per 1,000 patients every month. Lincolnshire and South Yorkshire ranked second and third, respectively, with significantly higher prescription rates than Somerset.

Despite Somerset's rank, it's essential to note that it falls well below the national leaders in terms of the frequency of painkiller prescriptions. For instance, the NHS North East and North Cumbria ICB prescribed painkillers over 26.7 million times between April 2018 and March 2023, costing the board more than £136.9 million.

The study provides insight into regional disparities in pain management strategies and poses questions about the reasons behind the variances. With Somerset sitting towards the middle of the rankings, it may suggest a balanced approach to pain management in the region, avoiding over-reliance on medications while still ensuring patient comfort.

Conversely, London NHS Integrated Care Boards, including North East, South East, North Central, South West and North West London, are prescribing painkillers at the lowest rate across the nation, all at less than 50 times per month per one thousand patients.

The reasons behind these regional variations in painkiller prescription rates remain unclear, inviting further investigation into factors such as demographic differences, regional health policies, and availability of alternative pain management options. Nonetheless, the data provides a unique perspective on how healthcare approaches vary across the country.

A spokesperson for MyTribeInsurance said: "This data offers a fascinating insight into the varying levels of painkiller prescriptions across England. There are various factors that might impact how many times analgesics might be prescribed in one area, such as the age of the population. Across the 42 integrated care boards that were included in the study, painkillers have been prescribed more than 300 million times in the past five years."