SDE user FAQs

The SDE can be used to access health and care data for research and development. Data will be available to support the following:
• AI/Algorithm development
• clinical trial activities
• real world studies
• translational research
• epidemiological studies
• health systems research.

Read more on our Why use the SDE page.

The data on the SDE can be accessed for NHS, academic and commercial purposes by experts in those fields. Every application undergoes a strict validation process including reviewing the public benefit,

Approved user(s) will be appropriately trained in respect of their use of the SDE and in relation to data protection, confidentiality, governance and security.

Read more about the process on our Apply to use the SDE page.

The SDE is a secure data platform built using Microsoft Azure TRE that enables secure access to person level de-identified, pseudonymised data. Project specific data is accessed via a secure workspace that holds analytical tooling required to undertake analytical work within the platform.

Read more on our About SDE Data and Why use the SDE pages.

The data available on the SDE will continue to expand with the ongoing development of the SDE and will be dependent on the signing of data sharing agreements by the data controllers of the different assets.

Phase 1 data for the SDE will include:
• GP Data
• secondary users service (SUS)
• mental health minimum dataset (MHMDS)
• local acute clinical data flows
• local mental health data flows (Mental Health Innovation Centre).

Phase 2 data for the SDE will include:
• maternity service dataset
• psychological therapies dataset (IAPT)
• civil registration deaths
• civil registration births
• Diagnostic Imaging dataset (DIDS)
• community services dataset (CSDS)
• faster data flows (FDF)
• patient level information costing system (PLICS).

Read more on our About SDE Data page.

You will need to fill in a form via the HDR UK gateway. The form will ask questions about research and the data you require based around the Five Safes Framework.  The form is currently in development and once live a link will be available on this website.

All applications follow a strict process which includes assessment by one or more Data Access Committees. Approved user(s) will need to demonstrate that they are appropriately trained in relation to data protection, confidentiality, governance and security. They will also need to specify the organisation they work for.

Read more on our Apply to Use the SDE page.

Yes. A cost model is being developed. The SDE has operational costs and overheads that need to be funded so there will be a charge for using the SDE.

To charge appropriately, each project request will be evaluated individually based on several factors including type of request and complexity.

Read more on the Our services page.

The time taken to process applications will vary depending on the quality and complexity of each request. The SDE network will work together to complete this as soon as possible.

Read more on our Apply to use the SDE page.

Individual data controllers (health and care service providers) will have signed data sharing agreements for access to the data they hold.

Data Access Committees (DACs) decide whether applications will be approved or not. The standard membership of a DAC includes:

• patient and public representatives
• GPs / clinical advisors
• information governance
• academic reviewers
• ethics reviewers
• data processors
• data controllers.

Read more on the responsibilities of the DAC on our Data Access Committees page.

The Microsoft Azure TRE workspace holds the standard data science tool set that can be used to analyse the data which includes Microsoft Azure TRE with SQL Server Management Studio v19.1; Azure Data Studio; RStudio; R 4.2.1; Visual Studio Code; Microsoft 365 Apps; Power BI Desktop; GIT; Python; Notepad++; also there is the ability to install libraries/extensions. Individuals can also bring their own software and code if this is approved by the DACs.

There are a host of industry-leading analytical tools available for users on the SDE, including but not limited to:

• DataBricks
• Azure ML & MLflow
• Cyclecloud (manages High Performance Computing (HPC) in Azure)
• Gitea (a Git mirror, so code can be shared)
• InnerEye (medical image analysis/deep learning)
• MySQL
• OHDSI (Observational Health Data Sciences and Informatics).

Read more on our About SDE Data page.

Yes, other data can be brought on to the SDE. A process is being developed to enable this. We will provide more information as this progresses.

Read more on our About SDE data page.

Data that is already in the SDE has Confidentiality Advisory Group (CAG) approval to be linked.

If you wish to bring in your own data set, there may be information governance steps that we need to take in order for you to be able to link data.

Read more on the About SDE data page.

The North West SDE adheres to the Five Safes Framework.

Read more on the How data is protected page.

A planned standard statement is under development.  We will make this available once it has been agreed and approved.

A support service is under development. When we have this in place, we will update the website accordingly.

Information on the research that is being carried out is available from the Data Use Register page.

Data is made available by individual controllers, NHS data controllers and NHS England. It is processed including pseudonymisation and data standardisation (including OMOP standardisation). The processing of the SDE data will be quality assure

Read more on our About SDE data page.

A national data catalogue is available through HDR UK. On registration and validation users will have access to this catalogue to inform their research. This will allow an understanding of the assets.

A local data catalogue is also being built that will allow users to understand lineage and provenance of datasets.

Read more on our About SDE data page.

For the purposes of this website we use ‘data is’ when talking about the data on the SDE. We appreciate ‘data are’ is the wording used in scientific publishing. Our website has a wide audience so the language used reflects that.

Our ‘For public’ pages include information about health research, what the SDE is, how it works and the options available to each of us as patients regarding our own data. This includes a Public FAQs with questions and answers tailored for patients and the public about their data on the SDE.

In ‘What’s Going On’ you can find latest news, as well as case studies or publications as they become available.

‘Get Involved’ is the best place to find out about our patient and public involvement and engagement work, our user group and opportunities to get more involved with research.

Our ‘About’ pages detail the areas we cover, our partners and the wider SDE network.