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 England.

Request access to SDCS

1. Complete the webform

Complete the SDCS Classic new user request form.

This form can be used to request:

access for a new user
changes to an existing user’s access
the removal of a user’s access

To find your ODS code search the ODS Data Search and Export (DSE) service.

If your organisation does not have an ODS code, please submit an organisation data request.

2. Register for a single sign-on account

If you do not already have an NHS England single sign-on, register for an account.

Use the same personal work email address that you used in your request.

3. Activate your account

When you have been given access to an SDCS collection, you will be sent an automated email invitation with a link to the collection.

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

Keep a record of who has SDCS access at your organisation as some collections have a limited number of submitters.

The list of SDCS users for your organisation can be requested from National Service Desk by Caldicott Guardians only.

SDCS guidance

There are 3 SDCS collections that are accessed using different links to the one above. These are:

Cancer Waiting Times (CWT) use a separate link and have a different process to get access.

SDCS Cloud is a separate platform and has a different process to get access.

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.

ARTICLE

Strategic Data Collection Service (SDCS) for General Collections - external user guidance

The Strategic Data Collection Service (SDCS) is a secure data collection system which accepts uploads of submissions in a variety of formats. This guidance document will help you register with SDCS and download and upload data securely.

ARTICLE

Guide to error messages in SDCS

When using Strategic Data Collection Service (SDCS) collections, you may get error messages. This guide tells you what may have prompted the error message and how you might fix the problem.

Contact us

To contact us, please get in touch.

Further information

Visit A-Z of data collections to find out more about all the collections supported by the data collection service.

Last edited: 24 June 2026 3:39 pm