Data users

About the North East and North Cumbria Secure Data Environment

The North East and North Cumbria Secure Data Environment provides researchers and analysts with access to linked health and care data from across the region through a single secure platform.

The NHS-hosted SDE currently receives regular data feeds from:

GP practices covering around 1.2 million patients
North East Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust
Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust
County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust

The dataset continues to grow. Around 80% of GP practices are already sharing data or are working through the onboarding process, which will increase primary care coverage to approximately 2.5 million patient records.

We are also working with all NHS trusts across the region to expand the range of available datasets and refresh frequencies, while developing partnerships with local authorities to bring together data from housing, education and social care.

This approach will create one of the most comprehensive regional linked datasets in England, supporting research, innovation and service improvement across health and care.

Secure Data Environment: Podcast

In this episode, Dr Alan Bagnall, Clinical Lead for the North East and North Cumbria Secure Data Environment, leads a conversation with Dr Nehal Hassan, Clinical Pharmacy Lecturer at Newcastle School of Pharmacy, and Arne Wolters, Head of Improvement and Analytics for Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust.

They discuss how the SDE programme will transform how clinical data is accessed, while also ensuring patient privacy.

A broad and growing linked dataset

The North East and North Cumbria Secure Data Environment combines nationally mandated datasets with locally sourced provider data, creating a richer and more detailed research resource.

Our data includes information from:

Primary care
Acute trust data (Secondary Uses Service)
Mental health trust data
Community care services
Cancer services
Maternity services
Diagnostic imaging
Electronic prescribing and medicines administration (ePMA)
NHS-provided talking therapies services
Ambulance services including 999 and 111 activity

Because we have established governance, data sharing agreements and technical infrastructure with providers, we can continue to add new datasets over time.

We are developing bespoke maternity and neonatal data extracted from the BadgerNet EPR through our partnership with the North East and North Cumbria Local Maternity and Neonatal System. This is a richer data source than is currently available through national datasets alone.

If the data you need is not currently available, speak to our team. We work closely with our partners and may be able to develop a route to provide the required data in future.

Benefits of using the North East and North Cumbria Secure Data Environment

Comprehensive linked data

Link records across primary care, acute, mental health, community and ambulance services using the NHS Number to create a richer understanding of patient pathways and outcomes.

More than national datasets

Access detailed local datasets alongside national collections, including electronic patient record, specialised clinical areas such as maternity, neonatal, cardiovascular, renal, metabolic and mental health services.

One application, many providers

Access data from over 100 participating organisations through a single application process and data controller framework.

Faster access

We aim to provide access to approved datasets within 60 days of receiving a complete application and approvals.

Future-proof platform

As new organisations and datasets join the Secure Data Environment, researchers benefit from an increasingly comprehensive and connected data resource.

Why choose the North East and North Cumbria Secure Data Environment?

The North East and North Cumbria Secure Data Environment combines broad population coverage, detailed local datasets and streamlined governance within a single secure platform.

Researchers gain access to linked health and care data that can answer complex questions about patient outcomes, healthcare utilisation, inequalities and population health, while benefiting from dedicated support throughout the access process.

Secure Data Environment Network registration process

Any new individuals or organisations who apply to access data on any of the England Secure Data Environment Network, need to register.

To find out more about how to do this, go to NHS Research SDE Network Registration Service - NHS England Digital.

SDE Network Acknowledgements and Publications Policy (SNAPPy)

The NHS Research SDE Network Acknowledgements and Publications Policy (SNAPPy) provides a guide for acknowledging, crediting, and tracking research outputs (including peer-reviewed articles) that use data from the NHS Research Secure Data Environment (SDE) Network in England.

It applies to any research outputs which use the SDE infrastructure. Access the national guidance.

Find out more

Please get in touch if you have any questions about the Secure Data Environment, or if you would like to access data for research or planning purposes.

Follow us on LinkedIn to keep up to date.

Contact the North East and North Cumbria SDE team

Data users

Secure Data Environment services

Data Access Committee

Test projects

Case study: AI Multiply