Greater Manchester datasets
Within Greater Manchester we have a comprehensive, linked dataset, which combines primary care , secondary care, laboratory, and social care data, linked through GM technical infrastructure including the GM Care Record, Secure Data Environment (SDE) and Analytics and Data Science Platform (ADSP). We have the ability to incorporate national and local datasets where required, supported by first of type IG permissions.
Greater Manchester datasets
Greater Manchester benefits from one of the most comprehensive linked population datasets in the UK. Core datasets available include:
• Primary care: GP records across the GM footprint, diagnoses, prescribing, observations, referrals
• Secondary care: Acute hospital activity, outpatient, inpatient and emergency activity, procedures and diagnostics
• Community and mental health datasets
• Social care datasets
• Additional datasets – Pathology and diagnostics, medicines and prescribing, demographics and deprivation indices
• National Data Sets Commissioning Data Sets (CDS) including: Admitted Patient Care (APC), Outpatients Attendances (OP), Emergency Care, Diagnostic Imaging, Community Services, Office of National Statistics ONS Deaths, Cancer Registry, Ambulance activity
Through the GM digital infrastructure, these datasets can be linked longitudinally at patient level, enabling:
• Population health analytics
• Cohort identification
• Pathway analysis
• Real-world outcomes evaluation
• Health economic modelling
The Secure Data Environment (SDE) in Greater Manchester is an essential enabler for Greater Data. SDEs are highly secure computing environments that provide access to de-identified health data to use in health and care research.
Utilising de-identified primary care data from the GM Care Record, linked with other key datasets (e.g. secondary care, national datasets), the SDE provides the infrastructure and analytical tools for clinical trials, real world studies, translational research, epidemiological studies and health systems research here in Greater Manchester for the benefit of our citizens.
Process for accessing the data
- Initial Enquiry – assessment of project viability, data availability, costing and legal basis.
- Feasibility – development of full project specification with Subject Matter Experts
- Application & Approval – Governance review and formal approval process.
- Project Set-Up – Information Governance, data preparation, and environment configuration.
- Live service – Approved access to requested datasets for the agreed duration.
- Ongoing Support – Our Service Delivery team will support you throughout your access period.
Governance
Engagement with experts within robust governance ensures that every data‑access decision is safe, ethical, and aligned with the needs of Greater Manchester, with independent scrutiny of applications to ensure accountability.
All applications to access data from GM health data assets are governed by the GM Data Access Committee (DAC). Applications can be approved at this Committee, following endorsement from technical experts in the GM SDE Applications Review Group (ARG), public representatives in the GM SDE Citizen Advisory Panel (CAP), and GP Data Controller representatives.
Five Safes Framework
Potential users of de-identified data in the SDE will need to go through a data access request process to ensure the data request and the requester meet requirements in line with the Five Safes framework. The Five Safes are a set of standards which enable data services to provide safe research access to data.
The principles are:
1. Safe Data: data is treated to protect any confidentiality concerns.
2. Safe Research: research projects are approved by data owners for the public good.
3. Safe People: researchers are trained and authorised to use data safely.
4. Safe Settings: a SecureLab environment prevents unauthorised use.
5. Safe Outputs: screened and approved outputs that are non-disclosive.
Academic and industry exemplar projects:
Greater Data: A real-world data and innovation service for industry and academia
We don’t just provide data access. Health Innovation Manchester’s data-led innovation service for industry and academia combines world-class data and insights to accelerate market access, improve health outcomes and drive real-world impact.
