Tailored summary tables including sensitive data

Key features

The key features of this service are:

• When you want to include sensitive fields, and/or when you choose a high degree of filtering or grouping, it is possible for the table supplied to identify individuals or groups of individuals.
• Unlike our standard tabulation service, which offers tabulations of non-sensitive data where any small numbers that could be used to identify groups or individuals are masked off, the numbers in these tabulations are unmasked.
• If your study requires either a) the cell contents with small numbers to be supplied unmasked, or b) you want sensitive fields to be included in your table, then you will have to justify why you need the data and what you intend to do with it. You will also need to ensure that you store, use and dispose of the data appropriately in order to comply with the legislation.
• There is a formal application process for which you should allow extra time though we will progress the application on your behalf. See the approvals process page in Supporting information for more information. Although the approval process will take some time to complete, it is different, and slightly quicker, than the approval process required if you had wanted a dataset with patient identifiable fields in it.

Example:

Approvals and costs

You will need formal approval for unmasked tabulations, and you will need to sign up to the standard terms and conditions. Once signed off, the specification will be subject to change control.

We offer this service at a cost (we are not a profit-making organisation). See the Data request charges page for details.

Requesting tailored summary tables including sensitive data

To submit a request:

• Complete the applicant details form. This tells us who you are and where to send the specification, tabulated data and invoice.
• Decide what selection you need, what filters you want applied and how you want the data to be grouped. To learn more about the possibilities available to you, read Understanding the Data.
• Decide what table layout you want (see 'Tabulation information' in related documents).
• Complete one of the field selection forms.
• Complete the Data Security form and supply a copy of your System Level Security Policy template - this will be used to support your application for approval and tells us (and the approval body) how you will store, use and dispose of the data.
• If you have requested that the data includes fields from PROMs, you will additionally need to complete the PROMs data request form.
• Should you be using HES data with a third party, you must also complete the Third party data security form. Only third parties that have completed this form will be allowed access to data provided.
• Send your complete forms to us at [email protected].

What happens next?

• We check your forms and turn your request into a specification.
• We send you the specification and the cost of the request, together with our standard terms and conditions.
• You sign the specification to acknowledge that you agree that it correctly specifies what you want and that you accept the terms and conditions.
• You return the paperwork to us.
• We supply you with the data that you have requested.

Need more information?

Please see the links in the 'Quick Links' box on the right-hand side of this page.