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Permitted Outputs Policy

1: Purpose

This policy outlines the requirement for all research conducted within the OpenSAFELY Service to comply with the permitted outputs of NHS England. It contains the following sections for reference:

  • Purpose
  • Scope
  • Policy requirements

2: Scope

This policy applies to all researchers conducting research within OpenSAFELY and outlines the outputs that may be released.

3: Policy requirements 

OpenSAFELY operates as a Trusted Research Environment (TRE/Secure Data Environment (SDE), where no data that could be used to identify a patient is permitted to be extracted from the platform. All outputs from the NHS England OpenSAFELY COVID-19 service and the NHS OpenSAFELY Data Analytics Pilot Service must be aggregated data with small number suppression applied. No results can be released from the server, or should be requested for release, that include information that could identify:

  • Patients;
  • Doctors;
  • Individual GP Practices;
  • Primary Care Networks; or
  • Local Authorities or smaller geographic areas.

Users are required to apply appropriate statistical disclosure controls to their outputs before requesting their release from the service, as set out in the OpenSAFELY documentation.

All outputs requested for release will be independently reviewed and assessed by two trained Output Checkers, and only approved once they have confirmed that the results are not disclosive. It is the responsibility of users to ensure outputs requested for release:

  • Are clearly explained to Output Checkers; 
  • Are clearly in line with the project purpose and not excessive in size, and; 
  • Adhere to the Permitted Methods Policy.

If the Output Checkers consider that requested outputs do not meet disclosure rules, they will inform the researchers and explain why. Where appropriate, they will also give advice on how outputs could be modified in order to satisfy these rules.

Users who repeatedly request that outputs be released that do not meet the criteria may have their use of the service suspended.

Last updated: 17 October 2025