Keeping data secure : How we protect data

Privacy and the protection of data is at the heart of the Integrated Data Service (IDS) and we ensure that individuals cannot be identified from data held in the platform and used by analysts and researchers.

Information about individuals such as names, addresses, and NHS numbers (legally shared by government departments and commercial organisations) is subject to a strictly enforced de-identification process. This is done by a small number of security vetted and data trained specialists who remove personal identifiers from the data we receive – before datasets are combined and analysed.

In line with the UK Statistics Authority's Code of Practice for Statistics (opens in a new tab) , the de-identified linked data will only be used for approved statistical production and research. It cannot be used for operational purposes, such as making decisions over individuals’ access to healthcare or benefits.

Equally, all datasets remain within the secure environment of the IDS and are never shared to external organisations – commercial or otherwise.