Painkillers had cost over £440m last year for the NHS in England.

For giving painkillers and medication for flu like Lemsip and Anadin, thousands of pounds are spent by doctors.

Figures also reveal that the expense of per head of population on analgesics in England when it comes to analgesics is £8.80.

The figures varied in northern and southern areas as it was £15 in some northern areas and £3.26 per head in south.

According to a data analysis firm, there were massive differences between the average amount that was spent on painkillers based on figures from the NHS Information Centre and the Office for National Statistics.

There were some who spent major amounts like Middlesbrough, Hartlepool, Rochdale and Blackpool, here the painkiller prescription bills in primary care trusts (PCTs) totaled to £2.3m.

There were some that did spend half of the amount like Richmond and Twickenham, Camden and Westminster.

In England on prescriptions given for cold and flu remedies, just over £3,000 was spent for Lemsip and Beechams Powders.

Pills like Panadol and Anadin had a major share of expenditure that was over £59,000.