NCL ICB is working with partners across the capital to set up the London Secure Data Environment (SDE) to join up health and care records. The London SDE will create a safe environment where NCL ICB will be able to link GP data with a wide range of national datasets covering acute, community, mental health services and adult social care.

Over time, the ICB aims to further enrich this record with data from other organisations to create a single access point to enable population health improvement, direct care projects, and research.

The London SDE will enable NCL ICB to replace all the core functionality of HealtheIntent and do this on NHS-owned infrastructure that has been jointly developed across London. 

• HealtheIntent will be decommissioned in October 2025
• The London Secure Data Environment will launch in September 2025

This launch will include the transition of HEI products. It will also start the process of developing new solutions with NCL partners to make use of this linked dataset. If you have ideas for projects that make use of the SDE, contact Enrico Panizzo: enrico.panizzo@nhs.net   

London Secure Data Environment

The following updated products are planned for release at launch in September 2025:

• LTC LCS Case Finding
• Valproate Dashboard
• COVID / Flu Vaccine Dashboard
• Immunisations Dashboard 
• Quality Improvement Tool for learning disabilities, severe mental illness and cancer

These tools will be published on the NCL Intelligence Function website (see Resources).

NCL ICB will be working on some products that will be delivered across London to support heart health (CVD Action: developed by UCLP) and paediatric asthma (led by NW London).

The ICB will also be supporting Driver Projects that translate research into direct care and extend the capabilities of the Secure Data Environment. 

Feedback and testing opportunities

Development has started and NCL ICB is seeking feedback on the planned tools and require testers for the spring and summer development period.

The testing process is being led by Eddie Davison: eddie.davison@nhs.net

Information governance / data access controls

All GP practices will be asked to sign new data-sharing agreements to enable their data to be used in the SDE. There has been extensive engagement to get the right controls in place, including a Citizens Advisory Group of 100 Londoners.

Further information are in the Data Sharing Agreements and summarised in the letter (see Resources).

Dr Ian Colvin represents NCL on the London Independent Information Access Group that ensures applications to use the data are for the benefit of the population of London. Steve Durbin chairs the NCL Data Access Group that oversees applications to use the SDE data in NCL.

If you would like to join the NCL Data Access Group (DAGr) to see the kinds of applications that are being made, contact: nclicb.dagr@nhs.net 

Further information

To support the launch of the London SDE, NCL ICB has developed a range of updated public communications. These are available in the Resources section, along with information published.

Contact nclicb.digitalhelpdesk@nhs.net if you:

• Have questions, feedback or feature requests for any of the upcoming tools
• Would like to participate in testing over the summer
• Have an idea for another tool not listed above
• Have suggestions based on current HealtheIntent experience