Practices successfully managed to halt the rising costs of prescriptions last year, according to figures published yesterday.

The year saw a small increase in the number of prescriptions dispensed in the community – but a reduction in the total cost, according to the NHS Digital figures.

The reduction reflects the success of campaigns to reduce antibiotic use.

They show the total cost of prescriptions fell from £9.2 billion to £9.17 billion while the number of items dispensed increased from 1.1 billion to 1.11 billion.

But an analysis by the BBC raised questions about the increase in the use of opioids where it found that 24 million opioids were prescribed last year, some ten million more than in 2007. It reported an increase in deaths from opioid misuse.

The Royal College of GPs said the prescribing trends reflected the ageing of the population.

Chair Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard said: “It is testament to advances in medical research, public health and the tireless work of our NHS that people are now living longer, however, this also means that people are living long enough to develop conditions such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

“As these conditions are identified more frequently, we have a responsibility to offer patients the right medication to manage them and reduce the risk of a heart attack or stroke in the future. For those living with multiple, complex conditions, this can sometimes mean being prescribed a variety of drugs to help them manage their health and reduce the risk of complications.”

“Patients should be reassured that while medication can be of great benefit, GPs will always try to explore alternatives to pharmacological treatments, and recommend lifestyle changes for patients, that may also have a positive impact on their long-term health and wellbeing.”