What is an SDE? > Your data

What is an SDE?

NHS Secure Data Environments, or SDEs, are online platforms for approved researchers to safely analyse sensitive data.

SDEs provide access to analyse routinely collected health and social care data.

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Why have Secure Data Environments been set up?

In 2022, a government review by Professor Ben Goldacre recommended using SDEs for healthcare research to make sure our personal data is as secure as possible. This was adopted as a government policy in Data Saves Lives, with the SDE programme funded from 2023.

SDEs securely host data from many different organisations across a region. This allows researchers to look at data from many different places. By linking these data, they can discover completely new insights about diseases and their treatments.

This SDE approach means data isn’t sent anywhere and is not used for any purpose other than the approved research. This approach has already been tested for several years. SDEs take it to a larger, regional scale.

SDEs could revolutionise how data is used in research. They could lead to improvements in treatments and health for everyone.

NHS England funds regions to run local SDEs. There are 10 regional SDEs as well as a national one led by NHS England.

What are the benefits?

Better security

SDEs hold data securely in one place and analysis happens within the SDE.

Researchers only access the data they need for their project. Once their research is complete, their access to this data is removed.

More efficient research

SDEs speed up the research process, making it more efficient.

Researchers request access from one data controller, rather than several different organisations. This also reduces the time NHS and other organisations spend dealing with access requests.

Opening up new research possibilities

Researchers will have a better understanding of what data is gathered across our region. Having access to such a rich data set will enable research that pushes boundaries.

Information for the public and patients

You’ll find much more information about the South West Secure Data Environment and how we work on this website. We have also published a leaflet for the public and patients with a short summary:

A thumbnail image of the printable patient leaflet, Your Data Your Choice.

Download the printable leaflet, ‘Your Data. Your Choice’.

Find out more details about how we secure your data here.

Understanding Patient Data have made this short video about how patient data is used in research: