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Information for research teams
The London Secure Data Environment: a learning health system advancing research, innovation and population health improvement in a global city.
The London Secure Data Environment
The London Secure Data Environment (SDE) will be a world-leading resource for health and care improvement.
Developed by OneLondon on behalf of all of the Capital’s Integrated Care Boards, the London SDE is a jointly owned and managed asset serving the entire London population.Â
Bringing together one of the world’s most comprehensive and diverse health datasets, the London SDE offers unparalleled opportunities for innovation across discovery research, translational science, and real-world implementation.
How will the London SDE support researchers?
The London SDE Research Service will support you to be part of our Learning Health System by connecting NHS, academic and commercial innovation partners with the data they need to develop and adopt ideas that tackle the real-world health challenges we face. The London SDE Research Service will support you step-by-step through the data access process:
- Project access request
- Data feasibility and technical proposal
- Information governance review
- Commercial / collaboration contracts
- Access to data
- Connection to London SDE delivery partners across London for analytics support.
Find out more about the London SDE researcher user journey HERE. Find out more about the NHS Research SDE Network Registration Service here and you can view the London SDE Data Access Request form here.
If you would like to contact the London SDE Research Service Team please complete this enquiry form.
What data is available in the London SDE?
Researchers using the London SDE will have access to a comprehensive set of linked, patient-level datasets covering healthcare activity across London.Â
These include:
- Primary Care data from GP practices
- Acute Care data includes (A&E, inpatient, and outpatient records) from all London acute trusts
- Mental Health Services Dataset
- Community Services Dataset
Find out more HERE.
Together, these datasets provide a rich, standardised resource for population health and service research. For more information about the data available visit Data Custodian – Health Data Research Gateway
What platform does the London SDE provide?
For each approved project, researchers will be provided with a secure workspace within the London SDE. This includes a secure, cloud-based Windows Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) hosted on Microsoft Azure, providing access to the data platform, integrated storage, and a comprehensive suite of analytical and productivity tools.
The standard workspace includes access to Azure services such as Azure Blob Storage and Azure Machine Learning, together with research and data science tools including Python, RStudio, Visual Studio Code, Git, and Azure DevOps. Researchers will also have access to productivity and visualisation software such as Microsoft Excel, Tableau, and Notepad++.
Additional software and specialist analytical tools can be provided where required to support specific project needs.
If you are a researcher currently using the London SDE, and have questions about the data or platform, please contact our team on servicedesk.onelondon@nhs.net
What is the national SDE registration process?
The NHS Research SDE Network Registration Service is a national process that individuals and organisations must complete before they can request access to health data through NHS Secure Data Environments (SDEs) in England.
Registration checks that applicants meet key eligibility requirements including appropriate data security standards, professional identity verification and an understanding of how NHS data should be used responsibly.Â
Organisations must also demonstrate robust information governance (for example through the Data Security and Protection Toolkit, Cyber Essentials, or ISO 27001) and formally agree to the SDE Network terms and conditions.Â
Individuals are required to provide employment details, professional credentials, and evidence of information governance training, with their employing organisation “vouching” for them.
Registration is free, usually takes about one month, and only needs to be completed once. It’s important to note that registration does not give access to data. Researchers must still apply separately to the relevant SDE for each project.
For more information and to apply, please visit: NHS Research SDE Network Registration Service website.
What is the Data Request Process?
The London SDE is designed to uphold the highest standards of privacy, security and confidentiality. This means health and care organisations, and in limited circumstances other approved third-parties, are able to access de-identified patient level data without the data leaving the London SDE.
A strict process is in place for approving which organisations or projects will be able to use the London SDE. This involves a pan-London Independent Information Access Group (IIAG) with clinical and public representatives from each of London’s ICSs and four Data Access Committees which each represent an area of London (West & Central, North East, South East and South West). To see minutes from the IIAG’s meetings please click here. It is worth noting that information from your application will be made available to the public via the London SDE Data Use Registry.
View the Data Access Request form template HERE.
How to contact the team?
For general research enquiries about the London SDE including about the researcher journey, governance and data access (including if you wish to submit a Data Access Request form) or whether the London SDE datasets would be able to answer your research question please complete this enquiry form.
If you’re inquiry relates to the platform or environment, or you have a query about a research project that is active on the London SDE, please contact servicedesk.onelondon@nhs.net