Data Access Request Service (DARS)
NHS England’s Data Access Request Service (DARS) is the gateway to accessing NHS health and social care data.
NHS England’s Data Access Request Service (DARS) is used to request access to NHS health and social care data for purposes beyond direct patient care. DARS ensures that legal, ethical and security requirements are met, and the privacy of the people whose data we hold is safeguarded.
About this service
DARS enables the health and social care system to make best use of its data to improve health care outcomes, including research powered by data, planning and commissioning of services, policy development, and improving the quality and efficiency of healthcare delivery.
Learn more about the role NHS England plays in health data and how we use data.
The Data Uses Register provides information about organisations who have used DARS and the reason for their access.
DARS works with different stakeholder groups to understand where DARS can be improved.
Data available through DARS
ICB’s and commissioners should visit Data Services for Commissioners (DSfC) to understand more about data available for access.
Information about data available through DARS, including data sets, metadata, and services to access the data available for each data set is below.
You may be able to use data which is already published to meet your needs which means you do not need to make a request through DARS. More information can be found on our statistical publications, open data and data products page.
Access this service
DARS provides the gateway for customers to access data through a range of services. The steps in the DARS process ensure that customers are matched to the service to access data which best meets their requirements.
To gain access to data organisations must make a successful application through the DARS process. The steps within the DARS process ensure that data access which is approved meets legal, ethical and security requirements.
Data Sharing contracts and agreements
The DARS process ensures that relevant contracts and agreements are in place for data access. This includes an organisational level agreement, known as a Data Sharing Framework Contract (DSFC), and for each request to access data a Data Sharing Agreement (DSA). For some services to access data, a service agreement will be required to cover the terms of access to that service.
Information for customers with a DSFC and DSA
Data access which has been approved is summarised in a document known as a Data Sharing Agreement (DSA). A DSA is specific to each request for data, and must be signed by both the applicant organisation and by NHS England before the data approved can be accessed. To gain a DSA, the organisation must have a DSFC in place with NHS England.
Those with a DSA are encouraged to familiarise themselves with important information on being a DSA holder, and on their DSFC with NHS England. This ranges from information on what happens once a DSA is signed and approved data access can begin, how information is published on your DSA, and how to make a change to your DSA. It also includes information on audits and reviews which may be undertaken for the DSA and DSFC, and what you need to know when a DSA or DSFC is due to expire.
Contact details
For enquiries contact DARS, enquiries are signposted to the relevant subject matter experts who will manage the response
If you have a request going through the DARS process, or if you have an enquiry relating to an existing Data Sharing Agreement, include your NIC reference number in your enquiry to ensure we can signpost it to the relevant expert to provide support.
Last edited: 14 May 2026 9:17 am