Welcome to our section on Data Access at HQIP where you can find information about our data access processes (including our Data Access Request Group, DARG), and how we provide safe access to data.
If you are a prospective data applicant and would like more specific information regarding the application process, please head to our information page below:
What do we mean by ‘data access’?
The audits and outcome reviews in the NCAPOP collect, analyse and report patient level health data to help improve the quality and outcomes of care in the NHS. We call this the ‘primary use’ of the data. But there may be ways to re-purpose the data and achieve even more public benefit – for example for other healthcare improvement initiatives, such as research, service planning or innovation projects. We call this ‘secondary use’ of the data, and we use the term ‘data access’ when referring to third parties’ requests for obtaining NCAPOP data for the purposes of their projects.
HQIP’s Data Access Request Group
HQIP’s Data Access Request Group (DARG) is the committee that is responsible for considering applications for ‘secondary use’ of data and recommending to HQIP whether the proposed access to data should be supported. The DARG committee consists of HQIP staff and public members. It is important that DARG ensures that any data access agreed is anticipated to benefit the health and care of the public. It is also essential to ensure that the data will be used appropriately, safely, and legally (see the Five Safes Framework section below).
The Five Safes framework – how do we provide safe access to data?
The Five Safes framework is a set of principles, originating from the Office of National Statistics (ONS), that enable organisations to ensure they are providing safe access to data. It provides a way of thinking through the checks needed to be sure that the data will be used in a secure and responsible way. The Five Safes are: safe people, safe projects, safe settings, safe data, and safe outputs. The Five Safes are used by many organisations to support the safe use of data – more information regarding the framework can be found on the UK Data Service’s webpage What is the Five Safes framework? – UK Data Service.
The importance of data sharing from a patient perspective
Find out what patients think about the value of data sharing in this exclusive interview with two public members of HQIP’s Data Access Request Group (DARG), which considers requests to re-use the healthcare data commissioned by HQIP.
Understanding health data and regulatory requirements
Complex rules govern how health and care data can be shared for research, innovation, and other uses beyond individual patient care. Making sense of, and keeping up to date with, how these systems work to provide access to data can be daunting, both for new data applicants and for patients and the public.
Our Understanding Health Data Access webpage provides some informative resources that outline how to design projects which protect patient privacy and meet legal requirements. Included in this, is a section dedicated to providing information for patients and the public, with useful links signposting to other resources available for individuals who would like to find out more. You can also find out more about how patient data is used and why it’s important through the resources created by Understanding Patient Data.
In addition, in this recorded presentation, you can hear more about out datasets and our data access process as well as highlighting top tips and common pitfalls in applying for data.
Top tips for using linked health datasets in research are also available in a leaflet co-produced with the Health Foundation.
Copyright requests
If you would like to use materials such as tables, text and other information, from the programmes we commission and host, then see our Copyrights requests section Copyright requests – HQIP.
