As an NHS organisation, we recognise that public confidence in how patient information is handled is fundamental to the delivery of safe and effective healthcare. Patients should be able to trust that their personal information is protected and used appropriately, and we believe that the highest standards of information governance, transparency and accountability must always apply.
The NHS Federated Data Platform (FDP) is a nationally commissioned and procured NHS programme led by NHS England. The procurement was undertaken through a formal process in accordance with public contract regulations, and decisions relating to the procurement, management and future of the national FDP contract remain matters for NHS England.
Within our organisation, any use of the FDP is subject to established information governance, cyber security, data protection and clinical governance arrangements. NHS organisations remain the data controllers for their own local data and retain responsibility for how that data is used. Decisions regarding local deployment of FDP products are made within these governance frameworks and in accordance with applicable legal and regulatory requirements.
NHS England has made clear that there are strict safeguards governing the use of NHS data. Data held within the FDP remains under NHS control at all times. Access is restricted to authorised users for approved purposes, and there are strict contractual, security and confidentiality requirements governing the platform’s operation.
Suppliers operating the platform do not control NHS data and are not permitted to access, use or share that data for their own purposes. All organisations handling NHS information are required to comply with UK GDPR, the Data Protection Act 2018 and wider NHS information governance requirements.
The NHS takes seriously its responsibilities in relation to the lawful, proportionate and secure use of health and care information. Any deployment of FDP capabilities is subject to the same legal safeguards and information governance requirements that apply to other NHS systems used to process patient information.
As the FDP is a nationally commissioned programme, decisions regarding the future of the contract remain matters for NHS England.
Concerns and queries relating to the programme should addressed to the responsible NHS England team at england.FDP@nhs.net.
Further information
You can find answers to Frequently Asked Questions about the NHS Federated Data Platform on the national FDP website.
This includes Easy Read and accessible content about the FDP.