Since receiving funding from NHS England in 2023, the programme has focused on building the legal, technical and governance structures needed to safely and securely use patient data for research and planning.
It has also involved working with the public across the whole region to understand views on the use of health and care records for these purposes.
The SDE keeps data within the NHS and gives access only to approved researchers and analysts. Because no data is copied or moved outside the NHS, it stays secure and up to date. Users access linked data without knowing who the individuals are.