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The NHS Research Secure Data Environment Network

The NHS Research Secure Data Environment Network helps approved researchers by simplifying and accelerating secure access to the health and social care data they need.

The NHS Research Secure Data Environment (SDE) Network is designed to provide faster and more secure access to different types of NHS data for research. By improving access to NHS data, the SDE Network accelerates world class research to prevent, diagnose, and treat our biggest healthcare challenges. This improves patient care, supports innovation and helps sustain the NHS.

The SDE Network covers the whole of England and includes the NHS England Secure Data Environment and 11 regional, NHS-led SDEs. It is the main route for accessing NHS data for research and helps to ensure consistent standards and interoperability.

NHS Research SDE Network map

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A map of England with pins showing NHS Research SDE Network locations. The SDE Network locations are:

  • England - population 57 million
  • East of England - population 6.6 million
  • East Midlands - population 5.1 million
  • Kent, Medway and Sussex - population 3.8 million
  • London - population 10.5 million
  • North East and North Cumbria - population 3.2 million
  • North West - population 7.3 million
  • South West - population 5.2 million
  • Thames Valley and Surrey - population 3.9 million
  • Wessex - population 2.8 million
  • West Midlands - population 6.2 million
  • Yorkshire and Humber - population 5.9 million

The SDE Network provides access to unique linked datasets for research, including genomic, pathology and imaging data. Access is managed securely through the Health Data Research Gateway.

You can read more about the development of the SDE Network in a blog by Hilary Fanning, Senior Responsible Officer for NHS England's Data for Research and Development Programme.

Services for researchers

In addition to data access, there are 3 parts to the services provided by members of the NHS Research SDE Network:

Data services
Data services

Offering published, linked, and curated NHS health data across multiple care settings.

Providing ‘bring your own’ and synthetic dataset options.

Platform services
Platform services

Provision of a specialised, secure platform and toolset that enables users to access, manage, and analyse sensitive health data in a controlled and compliant environment, which protects privacy.

Example products available include Python, SQL Server and Management Studio, and RStudio.

Consultancy services
Consultancy services

Delivery of consultancy and role-based support to users and their organisations.

Example consultancy support available includes project management, clinical advice and health implementation.

Data classifications for SDEs

New data is being published regularly by members of the SDE Network and the table below shows the classifications currently available from each SDE.

To find out more about individual members of the SDE Network, and the service and types of data they currently provide, follow the links in the table.

SDE region

 Primary care Secondary care Prescribing Diagnostics Community Mental health Mortality Maternity
East Midlands   Yes            
East of England   Yes Yes Yes     Yes  
Kent, Medway and Sussex Yes Yes Yes   Yes Yes    
London Yes Yes Yes   Yes Yes    
NHS England Yes Yes Yes   Yes Yes Yes Yes
North East and North Cumbria Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
North West Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
South West Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes      
Thames Valley and Surrey   Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes   Yes
West Midlands   Yes Yes Yes       Yes
Wessex   Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Yorkshire and Humber Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Table last updated: 14 July 2025

Some SDEs also offer vaccinations, demographic, social care and genomic dataset classifications, complimenting those in the above table. Please see individual SDE service pages to confirm availability.

Classification definitions

Primary care - Datasets capturing patient interactions with general practitioners (GPs) and other primary care services, including consultations, diagnoses, medications, and referrals.

Secondary care - Datasets covering hospital-based care, including inpatient, outpatient, and emergency department activity, as well as procedures and treatments provided in secondary care settings.

Prescribing - Datasets detailing medications prescribed and dispensed in both primary and secondary care settings, including prescription volumes, costs, and trends.

Diagnostics - Datasets containing results of diagnostic tests and procedures, such as imaging (such as X-rays, MRIs), pathology, and laboratory tests used in clinical decision-making.

Community - Datasets related to care delivered outside hospital settings, including nursing services, rehabilitation, social care integration, and health visiting.

Mental health - Datasets focused on mental health services and outcomes, including diagnoses, treatments, and patient interactions with mental health care providers.

Mortality - Datasets recording information on deaths, including causes of death, demographics, and associated healthcare factors, such as hospitalisations prior to death.

Maternity - Datasets capturing care related to pregnancy, childbirth, and postnatal care, including antenatal visits, delivery methods, outcomes, and neonatal data.

Demographics - Datasets containing information about patient characteristics such as age, gender, ethnicity, address, and socioeconomic status.

Social care - Datasets related to support services provided to individuals for daily living, including care homes, home care, safeguarding, and integration of health and social care services.

Genomics - Datasets comprising genetic and genomic information, including DNA sequencing data, genetic variants, and associated clinical annotations, used for precision medicine, disease research, and biomarker discovery.

Vaccinations - Datasets detailing immunisation records, including vaccine types, administration dates, patient demographic, and outcomes related to vaccination programmes.

Commercial pricing approach

There is a consistent approach to pricing across the SDE Network, both for data access and for the additional services described above. This approach supports sustainability of the network by recovering project costs while aligning with NHS value-sharing principles.

No two projects are the same and every project is priced based on its specific requirements and complexity. Pricing reflects direct costs, a contribution to fixed costs and towards ongoing service investment. There is flexibility to ensure pricing fairly represents the value of NHS data, according to the nature and scope of each project.

NHS Research SDE network pricing model

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Total price to the customer includes the cost associated with the platform service, consultancy service and data.

The platform service includes both:

  • service management
  • storage and compute

The consultancy service includes:

  • data analysis
  • project support
  • clinical support

Data includes:

  • provision
  • curation
  • value share

The value share data service employs 'flexible value return options' to calculate costs. All other services uses a harmonised 'Cost+' calculation method.

To find out more about the datasets available through these SDEs visit the Health Data Research Gateway.

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Last edited: 29 August 2025 9:18 am