Researcher Access Service: request an introduction for your organisation

Research Data Scotland (RDS) is meeting with universities and research groups across Scotland to introduce ourselves and to spread awareness of the Researcher Access Service, which makes it faster and simpler to access secure public sector datasets for research in the public benefit. We would love to speak to research teams who would be interested in learning more.

About the Researcher Access Service

Launched in 2024, the Researcher Access Service is a streamlined end-to-end platform for researchers accessing secure data. For the first time, the process is fully digitised, simplifying applications and enabling researchers to track their data access request from start to finish. Developed in collaboration with eDRIS at Public Health Scotland, the service introduces a streamlined, risk-based triage process guided by the Five Safes framework, meaning that eligible projects no longer need to be considered by a Public Benefit and Privacy Panel (PBPP).

Currently, nine of Public Health Scotland’s most frequently requested datasets are available through the streamlined service, and we are continually working to expand the range of datasets available.

Datasets currently available include: 

• SMR00 Outpatient (1997 onwards) 
• SMR01 Inpatients and day cases (1981 onwards) 
• SMR02 Maternity (1981 onwards) 
• SMR04 Mental health inpatient and day cases (1981 onwards 
• SMR06 Cancer registrations (1981 onwards) 
• PIS Prescribing Information System (2009 onwards) 
• A&E (2011 onwards) 
• Births (1981 onwards) 
• Deaths (1981 onwards) 

Full information about the available datasets can be found here.