NIHR & NHS England Improving Data Access Pilot

Introduction

The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Policy Research Programme (PRP) and Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Programme are currently running a pilot in collaboration with the Data Access & Partnerships Team in NHS England (NHSE), to better align NHSE requirements for data access with NIHR commissioning processes. The pilot involves introducing a new step within the NIHR commissioning cycle that will require an early, light touch assessment of applicants’ NHSE- data access requirements, conducted by NHSE and the NIHR commissioning committees. The aim is that overall this would make data access processes more efficient and effective for NIHR funded researchers.

Background

NHSE has a long history of investing into the collection, generation, and dissemination of health data for research. NIHR makes significant investments to harness the power of the health data held by NHSE to improve the health and care of the nation through research. NIHR-funded researchers and other external users can access data held by NHSE through the Data Access Request Service (DARS), including data assets previously accessed through NHS Digital, prior to the merger of Health Education England, NHS Digital and NHS England in 2023.

The pilot focuses on data accessed through NHSE DARS for NIHR funded studies and will evaluate a new process to increase alignment between NHSE requirements for data access and NIHR commissioning processes. The aim is to help researchers to access NHSE data in a timely and effective manner during the course of the research study, by facilitating early engagement between researchers and NHSE DARS, and identifying potential issues, challenges and resource implications earlier in the process - providing early feedback and guidance to researchers to support their data access applications.

Pilot participation

If your application is successful at stage 1, and your research requires access to NHSE data, you will be enrolled on the pilot and asked to complete a feasibility questions survey provided by NHSE. Pilot questions will focus on the following themes:

• Which NHSE dataset(s) and data variables your research will involve
• When and how frequently you will need access to NHSE data
• What cohort requirements will be involved
• Linkages to other data sources
• Your plans for how and where data received from NHSE will be stored and processed, including if a third party will access or hold any data.

The full details of the pilot will be provided at the launch of stage 2 calls, along with guidance on how to complete the feasibility survey questions, and key data considerations for your application.

Survey responses will be assessed by NHSE, who will provide comments to the commissioning committees ahead of stage 2 assessments, for their consideration alongside the scientific and methodological assessment of the full stage 2 application.

Feedback to applicants following stage 2 commissioning committee meetings will include comments about the NHSE data aspects of your proposal, as well as guidance on progressing your project through the DARS process.

Key dates