DHSC: TD: HDRS Corporate technical specialist data services BS

Overview

The Health Data Research Service (HDRS) is the most ambitious programme of improvement for UK health and care data ever undertaken. Announced by the Prime Minister in April 2025 and supported by the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), HDRS is being established to provide a secure, single access point to national-scale health datasets for research, innovation and improved public outcomes. HDRS is currently being incubated by Wellcome as a start-up organisation, with a programme of legal entity incorporation and transfer anticipated during 2026. The organisation will operate across two sites - London and Cambridge - and will serve a wide community of academic, industry, NHS and government stakeholders. HDRS is seeking to appoint a law firm to provide comprehensive legal support across four core workstreams as it builds its organisation from the ground up. External legal support is essential for day 1 operation of HDRS. Conflict of Interest and client-attorney privilege mean that it is not feasible to continue to utilise Wellcome Trust and DHSC legal advisors after the date of incorporation. This is a recognised issue by GLD and DHSC who have supported HDRS in identifying the solution - to procure external legal support through a direct award under a Government owned framework agreement. HDRS is seeking to appoint 2 legal services firms to support its mobilisation and transformation activity over the coming we months.