Transformation Directorate

How will Secure Data Environments be delivered?

Some parts of the NHS are already using Secure Data Environments (SDEs). However, it will take time and investment to move to a system where these are the default way to access NHS data. To support this change, the NHS will continue to invest in building and updating its technology and policies.

The Data for Research & Development (R&D) Programme is making England-wide investments in SDEs and has established the NHS Research Secure Data Environment (SDE) Network. This connects the teams developing the national and Sub National Secure Data Environments and will ensure there are consistent standards for data security and data access, as well as high levels of interoperability between platforms in the network.

What is the NHS Research SDE Network?

The NHS Research SDE Network aims to deliver an England-wide system of SDEs that provides safer, faster access to different types of NHS data by 2025. In improving access to NHS data, the SDE Network will enable world class research to prevent, diagnose, and treat our biggest healthcare challenges. This will improve patient care, support innovation and help us sustain the NHS in the future.

Membership of the NHS Research Secure Data Environment Network includes:

  • The NHS England Secure Data Environment service, which supports the health and social care research of approved organisations across industry, while the platform is in beta.
  • 11 Sub National NHS-led SDE teams, collectively covering the whole of England. They bring together integrated care boards with local universities and industry partners to build on existing collaborations and successful research partnerships. These Sub National SDEs cover populations of five million people on average and ensure life-saving research stays connected to local communities and clinical teams.

Following a competitive process, funding was awarded in December 2022 to teams representing:

  • East of England
  • East Midlands
  • Great Western
  • Kent, Medway and Sussex
  • London
  • North East and North Cumbria
  • North West
  • Thames Valley and Surrey
  • Wessex
  • West Midlands
  • Yorkshire and Humber

How will the NHS Research SDE Network be delivered? 

We have established a Community of Practice for the NHS Research SDE Network which unifies the NHS England SDE, 11 Sub National SDEs and partner organisations. The Community of Practice includes working groups which are focused on delivering the key outputs required to build the NHS Research SDE Network and help resolve any challenges faced. These groups cover areas such as information governance and ethics; technology infrastructure; and communications and patient and public involvement and engagement.

Each working group is led by national and local subject matter experts as well as members for The Data for R&D Programme and Department of Health and Social Care to ensure alignment with wider policy and health data work.

How will the NHS Research SDE Network support research and development?

The NHS Research SDE Network will become the default route for approved researchers to access NHS data. Each SDE will be expected to support the following types of research and development which will contribute to the Life Sciences Vision, priorities from the NHS Long Term Plan and will enable more real-world studies to support public bodies in:

  • AI/algorithm development
  • Clinical trial activities
  • Real world studies
  • Translational research
  • Epidemiological studies
  • Health systems research

How can researchers access the NHS Research SDE Network?

Working in partnership with Health Data Research UK (HDR UK) we launched the Health Data Gateway online web portal. The website is a platform for approved researchers and scientists to search, discover and request access to hundreds of datasets, tools and resources. No NHS data is held on the Health Data Gateway, it is simply a search engine for industry and research users to view what datasets are available. Initial data pipelines have been published on the Health Data Gateway website and provide a snapshot of what datasets will be available and when through the Sub National SDEs.

The NHS Research SDE Network will consolidate multiple data access routes into one Data Access Committee per SDE team. This represents a considerable reduction in the number of decision points that researchers must navigate.

Researchers will see improvements as each of the SDE Network’s Data Access Committees adopt the same data access application process supported by a single application form, harmonised Data Access Committee structure and turnaround times, and templated data access agreement.

Partnership with Understanding Patient Data

The Data for R&D Programme is underpinned by public and patient involvement, in line with the priority set out in the Data Saves Lives strategy to improve trust in the health and care system’s use of data. Our work includes being a co-funder of Understanding Patient Data, whose focus is on research, advocacy and communication to make the way patient data is used more trustworthy.

You can read more about our work together in a blog by Nicola Hamilton, Head of Understanding Patient Data.