A resource hub to support the safe, transparent, responsible, and trustworthy use of health and wider population data for research, statistics and innovation.
The SafeGUARDS framework supports the ethical, transparent and equitable use of data for research, while helping to maintain public trust.
Developed through UK-wide consultation with practitioners and the public, the SafeGUARDS bring together two essential components:
Explore the six GUARDS principles below. Each one includes practical “aspirations” and tools to help you apply the SafeGUARDS framework to your work.
Research using data about people must:
The GUARDS are designed to work hand-in-hand with the Five Safes. Together, they form the SafeGUARDS framework – A practical tool that supports trustworthy decision-making and makes data access decisions more transparent and easier to understand for everyone, including researchers, data custodians and the public.
Research using data about people has huge potential to improve lives, but only if data is used safely, fairly and with the public’s trust. As data use grows across organisations and sectors, we need a standardised holistic governance approach that is practical, ethical, and transparent.
The well-established Five Safes framework sets strong foundations for secure and responsible data access. But on its own, it doesn’t cover everything needed for trustworthy decision-making such as public involvement, transparency, equity and societal benefit.
The SafeGUARDS will help build and sustain a culture of good data practice and help communicate approaches to data users and the public. Developed with professionals and the public across the UK, they bring the Five Safes and GUARDS principles into one clear framework for making fair, responsible and understandable decisions about data access.
This unified approach provides a clearer, more consistent way for organisations to make data access decisions, which helps to accelerate responsible data use, strengthen trust and keep the public benefit at the heart of research.
If you’re interested in applying the SafeGUARDS or have suggestions for resources to act as tools/guidance for any of the principles, please get in touch with the team by contacting informationgovernance@hdruk.ac.uk.
The SafeGUARDS were developed by the Pan-UK Data Governance Steering group in partnership with Health Data Research UK’s (HDR UK) Public Advisory Board (PAB) and HDR UK Voices network.
The Steering Group includes representatives from the UK’s NHS authorities, national statistical agencies, regulatory bodies, data research infrastructures, national data science institutes (HDR UK, Administrative Data Research UK, Smart Data Research UK), industry stakeholders, and public contributors.
The GUARDS have been through extensive consultation, which is ongoing:
Any organisation can implement and work towards them. You won’t be formally assessed and don’t need certification.
The SafeGUARDS are not a checklist or a rigid set of rules. Instead, they offer flexible, practical guidance and a set of aspirations.
This flexibility enables them to be adapted to specific contexts and respond to the growing complexity of data ecosystems by shifting focus from checklist-driven compliance to transparent, accountable, and proportionate decision-making across the data life cycle.
We have an extensive range of resources to help you apply the principles across your organisation or processes for all domains.
Get in touch with our team or explore each principle below to access practical tools that can support you in implementing them.
Guided
Understandable
Aligned
Responsible
Deliver
Stewardship
Yes. The principles are designed to work across different cultures and scientific approaches, ensuring they have international relevance. Ongoing consultation — in the UK and globally — will help ensure they stay relevant, inclusive and appropriate for a wide range of research settings and communities.
