The NHS Research Secure Data Environment Network

The NHS Research Secure Data Environment Network helps approved researchers by simplifying and accelerating secure access to the health and social care data they need.

The NHS Research Secure Data Environment (SDE) Network is designed to provide faster and more secure access to different types of NHS data for research. By 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.

The NHS Research SDE Network covers the whole of England and includes the NHS England Secure Data Environment and 11 regional, NHS-led SDEs. It will become the main route for accessing NHS data for research and helps to ensure consistent standards and interoperability.

NHS Research SDE Network map

Image description

A map of England with pins showing NHS Research SDE Network locations. The SDE Network locations are:

England - population 57 million
East of England - population 6.6 million
East Midlands - population 5.1 million
Kent, Medway and Sussex - population 3.8 million
London - population 10.5 million
North East and North Cumbria - population 3.2 million
North West - population 7.3 million
South West - population 5.2 million
Thames Valley and Surrey - population 3.9 million
Wessex - population 2.8 million
West Midlands - population 6.2 million
Yorkshire and Humber - population 5.9 million

The NHS Research SDE Network is already operational in some regions and all areas will have an operational SDE by the end of March 2025. The SDE Network features unique linked datasets for research, including genomic, pathology and imaging data, with access managed securely through HDR UK's Health Data Research Gateway.

You can read more about the ambitions for the SDE Network in a blog by Hilary Fanning, Senior Responsible Officer for NHS England's Data for Research and Development Programme.

What are SDE 'services'?

There are three parts to the services provided by members of the NHS Research SDE Network:

Data services

Offering published, linked, and curated NHS health data across multiple care settings.

Providing ‘bring your own’ and synthetic dataset options.

Platform services

Provision of a specialised, secure platform and toolset that enables users to access, manage, and analyse sensitive health data in a controlled and compliant environment, which protects privacy.

Example products available include Python, SQL Server and Management Studio, and RStudio.

Consultancy services

Delivery of consultancy and role-based support to users and their organisations.

Example consultancy support available includes project management, clinical advice and health implementation.

Data classifications for SDEs

New data is being published regularly by members of the SDE Network and the table below shows the classifications currently available from each SDE. Further SDEs will be added as they become operational over the coming months.

SDE region	Primary care	Secondary care	Prescribing	Diagnostics	Community	Mental health	Mortality	Maternity
East Midlands		Yes
East of England		Yes	Yes	Yes			Yes
Kent, Medway and Sussex	Yes	Yes	Yes		Yes	Yes
London	Yes	Yes	Yes		Yes	Yes
NHS England	Yes	Yes	Yes		Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
North East and North Cumbria	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Thames Valley and Surrey		Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes		Yes
West Midlands		Yes	Yes	Yes				Yes
Wessex		Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Yorkshire and Humber	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes

Table last updated: 17 April 2025

Some SDEs also offer vaccinations, demographic, social care and genomic dataset classifications, complimenting those in the above table. Please see individual SDE service pages to confirm availability.

To find out more about the datasets available through these SDEs visit the Health Data Research Gateway.

Classification definitions

Primary care - Datasets capturing patient interactions with general practitioners (GPs) and other primary care services, including consultations, diagnoses, medications, and referrals.

Secondary care - Datasets covering hospital-based care, including inpatient, outpatient, and emergency department activity, as well as procedures and treatments provided in secondary care settings.

Prescribing - Datasets detailing medications prescribed and dispensed in both primary and secondary care settings, including prescription volumes, costs, and trends.

Diagnostics - Datasets containing results of diagnostic tests and procedures, such as imaging (such as X-rays, MRIs), pathology, and laboratory tests used in clinical decision-making.

Community - Datasets related to care delivered outside hospital settings, including nursing services, rehabilitation, social care integration, and health visiting.

Mental health - Datasets focused on mental health services and outcomes, including diagnoses, treatments, and patient interactions with mental health care providers.

Mortality - Datasets recording information on deaths, including causes of death, demographics, and associated healthcare factors, such as hospitalisations prior to death.

Maternity - Datasets capturing care related to pregnancy, childbirth, and postnatal care, including antenatal visits, delivery methods, outcomes, and neonatal data.

Demographics - Datasets containing information about patient characteristics such as age, gender, ethnicity, address, and socioeconomic status.

Social care - Datasets related to support services provided to individuals for daily living, including care homes, home care, safeguarding, and integration of health and social care services.

Genomics - Datasets comprising genetic and genomic information, including DNA sequencing data, genetic variants, and associated clinical annotations, used for precision medicine, disease research, and biomarker discovery.

Vaccinations - Datasets detailing immunisation records, including vaccine types, administration dates, patient demographic, and outcomes related to vaccination programmes.