GPES Data for Pandemic Planning and Research (COVID-19)

The purpose of this data collection is to respond to the intense demand, from across a wide range of interested parties, for General Practice data to be shared in support of vital planning and research for COVID-19 purposes, including under the legal notices issued by the Secretary of State under Regulation 3(4) of the Health Service (Control of Patient Information) Regulations 2002 (COPI).

NHS Digital has therefore been requested by the joint co-chairs of the Joint GP IT Committee* (the British Medical Association and the Royal College of General Practitioners) to provide a tactical solution during the period of the COVID-19 pandemic to meet this demand and to relieve the growing burden and responsibility on General Practices.

* The Joint GP IT Committee is a contractually-mandated committee representing the views of GPs from all 4 UK nations and users of all GP systems in discussions relating to the use and management of these systems and GP data created therein.

All General Practices in England.

NHS Digital has been directed by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care under section 254 of the Health and Social Care Act 2012 (2012 Act) to establish and operate a system for the collection, analysis and dissemination of data for COVID-19 purposes under the COVID-19 Public Health Directions 2020 (COVID-19 Direction). All GP Practices in England are legally required to share data with NHS Digital for this purpose under section 259(1)(a) of the 2012 Act.

Learn more about the COVID-19 Direction. 

This General Practice Extraction Service (GPES) data will be extracted as a snapshot in time extract on the initial collection. A subsequent fortnightly extraction will then continue until the expiry of the COVID-19 Direction. This is currently 31 March 2022 but will be reviewed in September 2020 and every six months thereafter. The frequency of the data extraction may change in response to demand.