The Kent, Medway and Sussex Secure Data Environment (KMS SDE) is unlocking the potential of your health and social care data to support research that helps to improve health the of the community.
This supports the government's 10 year health plan: 'data will fuel continuous learning in the NHS, support research and improve care'.
If you are a researcher looking for further information about the KMS SDE:
Secure data environments (SDEs) are computer platforms that are used for research and analysis and uphold the highest standards of privacy and security of NHS health and social care data.
The KMS SDE allows approved, appropriately trained researchers from validated organisations to apply to securely access and analyse de-identified (pseudonymised) health and social care data from across Kent, Medway and Sussex.
To access the data, researchers must:
SDEs allow the NHS to control:
SDEs adhere to The Five Safes framework. This is a set of principles that enable data services to provide safe research access to data.
NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) have invested in the development of a network of 11 regional SDEs for research and development across England.
The network ensures there is secure access to health and social care data for approved research projects. These projects are led by academics, industry organisations or NHS employees such as clinical researchers.
The KMS SDE enables researchers to access health and social care data safely and securely, enabling innovation for the benefit of patients, communities and the NHS.
The Kent, Medway and Sussex Secure Data Environment (KMS SDE) charges researchers a fee to access de-identified health data. This fee covers essential costs for specialist staff who keep our data systems safe and secure, and supports processes to ensure the data remains safe.
This ensures public money is being used responsibly with no financial burden on local NHS services.
If there is any extra money from the SDE, it will be reinvested into local NHS providers, benefitting health services in your area.
The KMS SDE Public and Patient Advisory Group, NHS Sussex Digital and Data People's Panel and the NHS Kent and Medway Digital and Data Involvement Group has supported the KMS SDE Programme Board, NHS Kent and Medway and NHS Sussex to decide where the funding should be reinvested. This ensures the SDE remains sustainable and continues supporting research that benefits everyone.
By enabling research, the SDE helps develop more effective treatments and earlier interventions, saving the NHS money long-term while improving patient care.