We use health and care data to help improve services, support better planning, understand the needs of local communities and enable approved research.
This helps the NHS and its partners make informed decisions about how services are designed, delivered and improved for people across Greater Manchester.
This work is supported by Greater Manchester’s Analytics and Data Science Platform, known as ADSP. ADSP is our shared data and analytics platform. It is owned and governed by NHS GM and our partners. It has been developed with significant involvement from NHS organisations, Health Innovation Manchester, the University of Manchester, local data controllers, the public and UK-based delivery partners.
Like many modern digital platforms, ADSP uses a mixture of technologies, including cloud-based tools. Governance, operation, data stewardship, data storage and decision-making remain under UK control. Patient data does not leave the UK.
The platform supports analysis across a health and care system serving approximately 3.3 million people. The cost of ADSP varies over time because it supports a number of services and functions across Greater Manchester’s health and care system. The current value of non-pay contracts is £5.57m, with an annualised platform cost of £2.53m. The ADSP brings together information from a range of health and care organisations where there is a lawful basis to do so, and supports activities such as population health management, service planning, operational improvement, evaluation, research and analysis.
ADSP has been developed over a number of years to support the needs of Greater Manchester’s health and care system. It is not a replacement for local clinical systems used by hospitals, GP practices, local authorities or other organisations. It complements those systems by allowing authorised users to analyse information safely and appropriately where this supports health and care purposes.
About the Analytics and Data Science Platform (ADSP)
The ADSP has been developed over many years to support the needs to Greater Manchester’s health and care system. It is made up of a range of technologies rather than a single produce or supplier. These include tools that support data collection, storage, orchestration, engineering, analytics and visualisation.
Protecting privacy
Protecting patient confidentiality is a fundamental priority. ADSP operates within UK data protection law, NHS information governance requirements and national security standards. Access to information is strictly controlled and only provided where there is a lawful basis and an approved purpose.
Only authorised users can access the platform, and access depends on their role and the purpose for which the data is being used. Users are only given access to the information and functions they need to carry out their work. Depending on the specific use, this may include NHS analysts, commissioning teams, public health specialists, clinical teams and approved researchers.
Safeguards include approval and onboarding processes, identity management, multi-factor authentication, role-based access controls, audit logging and monitoring, data minimisation and pseudonymisation where appropriate, and information governance review.
Where data is used for research or analysis, it is handled through controlled processes designed to protect confidentiality and ensure that information is used safely, lawfully and for public benefit. The Greater Manchester Secure Data Environment sits within the wider ADSP ecosystem and provides a controlled environment for approved research using de-identified health data.
Patient choice and opt-outs
Patients have choices about how their confidential patient information is used for purposes beyond their individual care. National NHS data opt-out arrangements apply to certain uses of data for research and planning, and NHS Greater Manchester honours these where they apply.
ADSP also operates a local data opt-out arrangement for purposes other than direct care. Further information is available through Greater Manchester public information resources, including information about how data is used for research and planning and the choices available to residents.
The NHS Federated Data Platform
The NHS Federated Data Platform, known as FDP, is a national NHS programme. NHS Greater Manchester considered FDP through its public Board governance arrangements in May 2025.
NHS Greater Manchester has not signed the FDP Memorandum of Understanding and has not onboarded to FDP. NHS Greater Manchester currently uses its established local Analytics and Data Science Platform to support its data and analytics requirements across Greater Manchester.
Some NHS trusts in Greater Manchester may make their own decisions about the use of national FDP products for the data they control. NHS Greater Manchester continues to work with partners across the local system where this is needed to support interoperability and wider system planning.
Our focus remains on ensuring that data is used safely, lawfully, transparently and in ways that support better health and care for people in Greater Manchester.
We are committed to maintaining strong information governance, protecting patient confidentiality and using data responsibly to support service improvement, planning, research and patient benefit.
