University of Liverpool: This application for HSCIC HES data is part of a research study funded by the Medical Research Council Hubs for Trials Methodology Research (MRC HTMR).

Data-sharing agreement from NHS Digital registers of approved data releases, 2014–2019. Evidence status: source reported.

Organisation: University of Liverpool
Source reference: DARS-NIC-19805-M6T5R-v0.2
Jurisdiction: England
Licence: Open Government Licence v3.0, subject to NHS England terms and exclusions

Register reference: DARS-NIC-19805-M6T5R-v0.2
Agreement period: not published to no end date published
For commercial purposes (as marked in the register): Not stated
Release files listed by NHS England: 12

Data approved

Hospital Episode Statistics Accident and Emergency
Hospital Episode Statistics Admitted Patient Care
Hospital Episode Statistics Critical Care
Hospital Episode Statistics Outpatients

Objective, as published

This application for HSCIC HES data is part of a research study funded by the Medical Research Council Hubs for Trials Methodology Research (MRC HTMR). The study is standalone and independent, but is broadly part of a wider programme of funding involving research aiming to develop the use of health informatics, including electronic medical records in prospective medical research. Data regarding patients’ primary and secondary care is routinely recorded in electronic medical records by a number of organisations including the HSCIC. Such data retrieved from electronic medical records has demonstrated utility in clinical research. Electronic medical records have an established role in providing the dataset for retrospective, observational clinical and record linkage studies. In addition, in prospective studies, electronic medical records can provide useful, additional data that can inform analyses such as the long term assessment of mortality. Although there is a precedent for the use of data retrieved from electronic medical records in retrospective clinical studies and to a lesser extent in prospective studies, there is limited evidence of the attributes of such data when accessed to measure prospective outcomes as part of a pragmatic Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT). An assessment of data retrieved from electronic medical records in the context of prospective clinical research becomes particularly relevant where such data are now being used to conduct all stages of a RCT, i…

Expected benefits, as published

There are both direct and indirect benefits to healthcare. This application for HSCIC HES data is part of a research study funded by the Medical Research Council Hubs for Trials Methodology Research (MRC HTMR). The study is standalone and independent, but is broadly part of a wider programme of funding involving research aiming to develop the use of health informatics, including electronic medical records in prospective medical research. The Standard and New Antiepileptic Drugs (SANAD) RCT is a multicentre, pragmatic RCT of worldwide significance, informing the first line use of antiepileptic drugs in clinical practice and prompting a review of national treatment guidelines. The subsequent study SANAD II (EudraCT No: 2012-001884-64, ISRCTN Number: 30294119) is on-going, opening recruitmen…

Source: https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/2019/http://content.digital.nhs.uk/media/22305/Data-Release-Register-April-to-August-2016/xls/Data_Release_Register__April_-_August_2016.xlsx. Captured 2026-10-30.

Limitations: Agreement as recorded in an NHS Digital register of approved data releases (2014–2019), retrieved from the UK Government Web Archive. That register lists releases made in its period and the agreement's purpose statement as it then stood; it gives no agreement dates, and the agreement may have changed since. Imported only where a paper quotes a reference no current register holds.