Services to access data

The NHS England Data Access Request Service (DARS) is the gateway to request access to a range of different data access services. DARS serves a wide range of users who request access to NHS health and social care data for secondary use purposes including research and commissioning.

DARS enables requests to access data to be matched to the best available service(s) to access data to meet their needs. To understand more make an enquiry.

Secure Data Environments (SDE) for Research

Secure Data Environments (SDEs) are secure platforms where approved researchers can access NHS health and care data for public benefit without the data ever leaving the environment. Data Saves Lives, the data strategy for health and social care confirmed this approach with a commitment to the implementation of Secure Data Environments (SDEs) as the default way to access NHS data for research and other secondary uses.

Read the data access policy update which sets out the decisions shaping the implementation of Secure Data Environments for secondary uses of NHS data.

The NHS Research Secure Data Environment (SDE) network

The NHS Research SDE Network provides secure, consistent, and efficient access to data for research that improves health and care. The network is made up of:

NHS England Secure Data Environment (SDE)
Regional SDEs

NHS England Secure Data Environment (SDE)

The NHS England Secure Data Environment (SDE) is a secure data and research analysis platform which is part of the interoperable NHS research SDE network.

The NHS England SDE provides access to many NHS data sets including hospital episodes, emergency care, maternity, mental health data sets and more.

Access to the NHS England SDE is requested through the DARS process.

Regional SDEs

Regional SDEs led by local NHS organisations, are also part of the NHS Research SDE network. Learn more about how to access them.

NHS DigiTrials

NHS DigiTrials support clinical trials that are developing new treatments to improve health and care. They provide safe, authorised access to patient data to help trials reach and benefit as many people as possible.

Data Services for Commissioners

The Data Services for Commissioners team are responsible for ensuring NHS England meets its statutory and service obligations to commissioners.They do this through the Data Services for Commissioners Regional Offices (DSCROs) by developing and implementing policies and plans along with the sharing of data with commissioner ICBs.

NHS England OpenSAFELY

The NHS England OpenSAFELY is a secure data analytics platform that enables timely access to pseudonymised GP and NHS England patient data for research and planning purposes.

The Extract Service

The Extract Service is a legacy data access service enabling data sharing which was used before the implementation of SDEs across the NHS in England. The default method for access to data will be the Secure Data Environment an extract will only be considered in exceptional circumstances.

Last edited: 13 May 2026 12:47 pm