Introduction
“Personally Administered Items” (PPA) might sound like a niche concept, but understanding them is crucial for efficient patient care and solid practice finances. This opening article covers the fundamentals: what PPA means, which items typically qualify, and why it’s worth your attention.
(In the next article, we’ll go deeper into how reimbursement actually works. Jump to The Reimbursement Process Explained)
What Are PPA (Personally Administered) Items?
When your practice purchases and administers something to a patient on the premises, you can claim reimbursement via PPA (provided it’s an eligible category under NHS rules). If it’s an injection drawn from your fridge stock or a contraceptive device fitted during a consultation, that’s likely claimable.
Typical PPA categories include:
Vaccines & Injections (e.g. flu vaccines, B12, steroid injections)
Contraceptive Devices (e.g. implants, IUDs)
Diagnostic Reagents (e.g. tuberculin test solutions)
Certain Appliances (e.g. ring pessaries, if listed in the Drug Tariff)
Sutures & Skin Closure Strips
For deeper insight into some of the most common PPA items, see our dedicated article, Common PPA Items.
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Why It Matters
Better Patient Experience No extra pharmacy trip. A nurse can provide, say, a B12 injection right away, saving time and hassle for both patient and staff.
Financial Sustainability The NHS reimburses you for the item cost plus a small fee. This can meaningfully support practice income—if you claim properly.
Integrated Clinical Workflow For high-volume vaccinations like flu, administering from practice stock is far simpler than writing thousands of individual prescriptions.
(If you’re keen to explore how to buy PPA items most efficiently, read on in Procuring Stock: How Practices Obtain PPA Items)
Watch Out For…
Centrally Supplied Vaccines Childhood immunisations, for instance, are usually provided free of charge via ImmForm, so you don’t claim their cost as PPA.
High-Cost “Loss” Items Some expensive injections or implants may cost more than the NHS reimburses. In that case, many practices choose to issue an FP10 prescription instead. We’ll discuss this in detail in Deciding When to Use Practice Stock vs. FP10
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Example: B12 Injection
A straightforward illustration is the B12 injection for deficiency. Instead of prescribing it for the patient to pick up, you keep vials in your surgery fridge. The nurse administers it during the appointment, and you then claim that cost (plus a small fee). That’s PPA in action—a clear, convenient process for both patient and practice.
What’s Next?
This foundation sets you up for the reimbursement nitty-gritty. In the next article, we tackle exactly how payment is calculated, where to find official rates, and why certain items earn you more (or less) than you’d expect.
Be sure to follow the links in this series for more insights on coding and claiming, procurement strategies, and practice-friendly tips.
PS - ever wondered why it's called "PPA"?
"Personally Administered Items" are often referred to as PPA because of their connection to the Prescription Pricing Authority (PPA), which was the historical body responsible for processing GP payments, including reimbursements for personally administered items.
Even though the PPA was absorbed into the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) in 2006, the term PPA claims persisted because GPs and practices were accustomed to using it when referring to claims for personally administered (PA) drugs.