NHS DigiTrials Recruitment Service Directions 2026
A Direction given by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care requiring NHS England to establish and operate a system for the collection and analysis of the information to be known as the NHS DigiTrials Recruitment Service.
Purpose
The purpose of these directions is to enable NHS England to enhance its support for health and life sciences research by implementing and operating the NHS DigiTrials Recruitment Service.
The service will:
- aim to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of clinical trial recruitment across the UK by identifying appropriate cohorts to be invited to take part in research, using data which has already been collected by NHS England
- collect, analyse and link data required to support requesting organisations in the use of the Service; and
- enable the use of data obtained as part of delivering the Service, including through analysis and linkage of data, to support service delivery management, monitoring and improvement
Legal basis
Sections 254(1) and (6), section 254(2)(b), section 260(2)(d), section 261(2)(e) and section 304(9), (10) and (12) of the Health and Social Care Act 2012 (the 2012 Act) and Regulation 32 of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Constitution and Functions) and the Health and Social Care Information Centre (Functions) Regulations 2013 (the Regulations).
This Direction came into effect on 24 March 2026.
The following directions are revoked: Pilot NHS DigiTrials Recruitment Support Services Directions 2021.
Last edited: 26 March 2026 11:22 am