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Strategic Data Collection Service (SDCS)

The Strategic Data Collection Service (SDCS) is a secure data collection system used by health and social care organisations to submit data to NHS Digital.

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Access the Strategic Data Collection Service

Most collections can be found here. Three exceptions are listed below under "Links to access SDCS".

We manage access to SDCS by granting individual users permissions to complete specific collections.

How to access SDCS

To access SDCS you must have:

  • the appropriate permissions for each data collection you want to submit data for (granted by NHS Digital)
  • a valid single sign-on account (SSO) account 

1. Ask for SDCS access to submit data

The number of submitters allowed for each organisation varies by collection. In general, one submitter is allowed for an annual collection, three for weekly/monthly/quarterly collections and up to six for a daily collection.

How many we can register depends on the specific requirements of the collection. 

We recommend organisations maintain internal records of their submitters; we cannot disclose this information unless directly requested by the organisation’s Caldicott Guardian.

To ask for access to SDCS to submit data, contact [email protected], and give them your:

  • name
  • personal work email address
  • phone number
  • name of organisation you work for
  • ODS code of organisation you work for
  • name of the collection or collections you need to submit data for

We can only grant permissions to your personal work email address.

Do
  • use your personal work email address which includes your name, for example [email protected]
Do not
I do not know the ODS code of my organisation

Find the ODS code of your organisation on the ODS portal

My organisation does not have an ODS code

An ODS code is needed to take part in any SDCS data collection.

Email [email protected] to request an ODS code request form.

2. Register for a single sign-on account

Visit https://login.hscic.gov.uk/Register.aspx to register for an account, if you do not already have one. Use the same personal email address that you used in your request. 

3. Activate your account

When you have been given permissions for an SDCS collection, you will be sent an automated email invitation, including the link to SDCS for that collection.

You need to sign into the system within 30 days of getting the email to activate your account.

SDCS guidance

Video guidance

This video describes how to create a submission via SDCS.

Written guidance

The detailed written guidance below includes how to request another user is added or request that a user is removed from your organisation, accessing the web-based SDCS system, submitting data files, and viewing and downloading submitted data.

 

Contact us

If you need more help or have any questions, email [email protected].

Further information

Last edited: 23 February 2024 4:01 pm