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Independent analysis of NHS open data
PharmaInsight

Hydrocortisone acetate

Skin Topical corticosteroids BNF 1304000X0
Data updated May 2026 Download CSV

Hydrocortisone acetate was ranked 289th of 1,792 medicines by items in May 2026, with 38,206 items, down 4.7% on a year earlier.

38,206items -4.7%

Dispensed in May 2026

475,949items

Rolling 12 months

£251,915

Net ingredient cost · May 2026

Figure 1. Hydrocortisone acetate: national items dispensed by month

0 23k 45k Jan 2021 Nov 2021 Sep 2022 Jul 2023 May 2024 Mar 2025 May 2026 38,206 Jan 2021: 37k Feb 2021: 39k Mar 2021: 45k Apr 2021: 43k May 2021: 36k Jun 2021: 41k Jul 2021: 40k Aug 2021: 36k Sep 2021: 39k Oct 2021: 36k Nov 2021: 37k Dec 2021: 35k Jan 2022: 38k Feb 2022: 37k Mar 2022: 43k Apr 2022: 37k May 2022: 39k Jun 2022: 39k Jul 2022: 39k Aug 2022: 39k Sep 2022: 37k Oct 2022: 36k Nov 2022: 39k Dec 2022: 36k Jan 2023: 40k Feb 2023: 38k Mar 2023: 44k Apr 2023: 37k May 2023: 42k Jun 2023: 45k Jul 2023: 41k Aug 2023: 42k Sep 2023: 43k Oct 2023: 40k Nov 2023: 41k Dec 2023: 35k Jan 2024: 43k Feb 2024: 40k Mar 2024: 41k Apr 2024: 43k May 2024: 43k Jun 2024: 41k Jul 2024: 43k Aug 2024: 42k Sep 2024: 39k Oct 2024: 41k Nov 2024: 39k Dec 2024: 36k Jan 2025: 42k Feb 2025: 38k Mar 2025: 41k Apr 2025: 39k May 2025: 40k Jun 2025: 41k Jul 2025: 45k Aug 2025: 39k Sep 2025: 40k Oct 2025: 40k Nov 2025: 37k Dec 2025: 37k Jan 2026: 39k Feb 2026: 37k Mar 2026: 42k Apr 2026: 41k May 2026: 38k

Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to May 2026

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At a glance

  • Therapeutic class Topical corticosteroids
  • Presentations 3 shown
  • Average cost / item £6.59
  • Year on year Down 4.7% on a year earlier
What this is
Net ingredient cost is the list price before discounts and dispensing fees, not what the NHS finally pays.

Top presentations, May 2026

The individual products dispensed under Hydrocortisone acetate this month.

Presentations of Hydrocortisone acetate, May 2026
Presentation BNF code Items Net ingredient cost
Fucidin H cream 1304000X0BHABCB 37,927 £250,354
Hc45 Hydrocortisone 1% cream 1304000X0BMAAAA 276 £1,543
Fucidin H ointment 1304000X0BHACCG 3 £18

Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis · to May 2026 OGL v3.0

Where Hydrocortisone acetate is dispensed

The regions and dispensing practices with the highest Hydrocortisone acetate volumes.

Regional volumes from NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis; practice volumes from NHS dispensing data.

Compare Hydrocortisone acetate with

Other medicines in the same BNF section, by prescribing volume.