Why NHS Digital collects general practice data

NHS Digital is the national custodian for health and care data in England and has responsibility for standardising, collecting, analysing, publishing and sharing data and information from across the health and social care system, including general practice.

NHS Digital collected patient data from general practices using a service called the General Practice Extraction Service (GPES), which has operated for over 10 years and now needs to be replaced.

NHS Digital has engaged with doctors, patients, data and governance experts to design a new approach to collect data from general practice that:

• reduces burden on GP practices
• explains clearly how data is used 
• supports processes that manage and enable lawful access to patient data to improve health and social care

Please click on the Weblink provided for further information:

NHS Digital - General Practice Data for Planning and Research