Great Western Secure Data Environment (GWSDE) v1.0
Research type
Research Database
IRAS ID
341571
Contact name
Charlie Kenward
Contact email
Research summary
Great Western Secure Data Environment (GWSDE)
REC name
North West - Haydock Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
24/NW/0111
Date of REC Opinion
15 Apr 2024
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion
Data collection arrangements
NHS led Secure Data Environments are a new initiative that will aim to be a safe way of accessing health and care data to conduct research. Currently health and care information is held by organisations that provide care, like hospitals or GPs. Data is often used and stored in different ways depending on its purpose. For example, your data might be used by your doctor to help give you the right care. For other uses of data, such as research to find new treatments or develop services, your data can be processed in a way that removes any information that would link that data back to you or reveal your identity.
Research already happens using healthcare data in various ways. Secure Data Environments are working locally to create better access to up-to-date and accurate data for research, but in a way that makes sure we are improving the standards of security and confidentiality. Secure Data Environments are highly secure computing environments that provide secure access to health data for approved researchers conducting health and care research that can save and improve lives. SDE’s put virtual walls around data to ensure that users only have access to data necessary for conducting approved research. This is a way of better controlling who has access to data to ensure they are using it appropriately and aims to prevent the need for data to be sent or copied where possible. The researchers who use the secure data environment will have to go through a strict accreditation process to ensure they are suitable. Only data necessary for a specific research project will be made available. It will not contain any 'patient identifiers', such as names, addresses or NHS numbers. Each extract will be transferred to a separate part of the environment where the researchers for that project can conduct their analysis. Their activity is monitored, and data cannot be downloaded. The results of analysis will be checked before being passed to the researchers.Research programme
We welcome applications for research data services from any approved researcher and research organisation. All requests will be subject to a rigorous data access approval process, which incorporates the perspectives of patients and the public. All research conducted must pass the public interest test. We are particularly interested in research proposals from within the region, research that aims to directly benefit our patients and NHS (see Annex 1.5 – Operational Processes).
Research database title
Great Western Secure Data Environment (GWSDE)
Establishment organisation
Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board (BNSSG ICB)
Establishment organisation address
360 Bristol - Three Six Zero
Marlborough Street
Bristol
BS1 3NX