As the NHS continues its digital transformation journey, data has become central to everything — from strategic planning to patient care and operational efficiency to clinical innovation. The introduction of the Federated Data Platform (FDP) signals an evolution in how data is accessed, analysed, and actioned across the health and care system.
But with any transformation, questions naturally arise about workforce implications.
For NHS analysts — the people turning data into insight every day — one such question is key:
Will I still be able to use the skills I’ve spent years building?
The answer is an emphatic yes. FDP has been designed not only to preserve but to enhance the value of the NHS analytical workforce. They support core skillsets like SQL, R, Python, and Power BI while introducing new opportunities for capability development, collaboration, and career growth.
This blog explores how FDP+ deliver a positive and practical roadmap for NHS analysts — enabling them to thrive, contribute, and lead in the era of federated intelligence.
Recognising the NHS Analytical Workforce: A Strategic Asset
The NHS analytical community is one of the health system’s most valuable assets. It comprises professionals with a deep understanding of local data, population needs, service flows, and clinical pathways. These are not just “coders” — they are problem-solvers, insight builders, and trusted advisors to senior leaders.
Over the past decade, NHS Trusts and ICBs have invested in growing this community:
- Training analysts in SQL, R, Python, DAX, Power BI, and Excel
- Developing reusable code libraries and reporting frameworks
- Embedding analysts into operational, performance, and clinical teams
- Building networks like NHS-R and public health data collaborat
As the NHS moves toward greater interoperability and federated data sharing, these skills are more important than ever.
FDP and FDP+ do not replace the need for analytical talent — they amplify it.
From Tools to Platforms: What’s Changing, What’s Not
At first glance, a platform like FDP may seem like a new environment — a departure from local SQL servers or desktop-based workflows. But the truth is that FDP (and the FDP+ environment layered on top) is built with flexibility, interoperability, and skill continuity in mind.
What stays the same:
- SQL, R, and Python remain core tools supported in FDP+ workspaces.
- Power BI, Tableau, and Excel continue to be the primary visualisation tools.
- Analysts retain control of scripts, queries, and models they already use.
- Analysts continue to work on local data and priorities, not only national directives.
What gets better:
- Scalable compute environments remove desktop processing limits.
- Federated access allows cross-system insights without exporting data.
- Version control and CI/CD pipelines enable reproducibility and team collaboration.
- Pre-approved packages and managed environments reduce friction and risk.
In short, analysts continue to use the tools they know — but with more power, more data, and more opportunity to collaborate.
Supporting the Analyst Journey: Entry-Level to Expert
FDP+ includes a tiered environment that supports the full spectrum of analytical professionals, from junior analysts to experienced data scientists.
For Entry-Level and BI Analysts
- Self-service data environments with drag-and-drop dashboard builders
- Natural language querying tools (e.g., “Show me emergency admissions by week”)
- Templates and prebuilt visualisations aligned to NHS reporting needs
- Access to clean, federated datasets without needing to write complex code
For Mid-Level Analysts
- SQL, R, and Python notebooks for custom queries and modelling
- Reusable code libraries for automation, forecasting, and reporting
- Integrated testing and scheduling tools
- Peer review workflows and automated data quality checks
For Advanced Analysts and Data Scientists
- Scalable GPU and HPC environments for machine learning and simulations
- Custom model deployment using MLOps pipelines
- Secure sandbox environments for model experimentation
- Bias detection and assurance frameworks for responsible AI
This means FDP+ is not just a platform — it’s a career pathway enabler.
Breaking the Myth: FDP Will Deskill Analysts
One of the concerns voiced across the system is whether FDP might inadvertently reduce the need for local analytical work — centralising data and moving analysts into peripheral roles.
But the FDP architecture — and especially FDP+ — does the opposite.
It elevates the role of local analysts by:
- Giving them access to richer, joined-up datasets
- Enabling collaborative, federated analytics with peers across ICSs
- Supporting the creation of reusable insight assets shared nationally
- Embedding analytics into automated workflows and decision tools
Far from deskilling the workforce, FDP+ makes analysts more essential — as translators, explainers, and builders of trust in data.
Protecting Analyst Autonomy: Ownership, Access, and Control
A major design principle of FDP+ is local autonomy. Analysts and data leads retain control over the following:
- What datasets are made available to others
- What scripts, dashboards, and logic are shared or kept private
- Who has access to their workspaces
- What tools do they use to analyse data
This is supported through:
- Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) at the project, dataset, and user level
- Federated identity management using NHS Identity, Azure AD, and Okta
- Project-specific environments for local or system-wide collaboration
- Audit logs and metadata tagging for transparency and governance
Analysts are not passengers in this system — they’re pilots.
Co-Design and Continuous Feedback: Built With Analysts, For Analysts
FDP+ has been shaped through engagement with NHS analysts, including:
- NHS-R Community members
- ICS data leaders
- Academic partners
- Public health analysts
- BI developers in Trusts
This feedback has influenced:
- How scripting environments are configured
- What default packages are included
- How data dictionaries are structured
- How dashboards are shared, versioned, and governed
FDP+ is not a fixed system — it evolves with the community. Analysts are part of the development roadmap.
Supporting Skill Growth: Training, Mentorship, and Upskilling
FDP+ includes resources for continuous learning:
- Role-specific training paths (BI analyst, data scientist, IG lead, etc.)
- On-demand tutorials and code walkthroughs in SQL, Python, and R
- Mentorship programmes connecting advanced and junior analysts
- Digital badges and certification for new FDP+ capabilities
FDP+ doesn’t just preserve skills — it upgrades them.
It enables NHS analysts to:
- Learn cloud-based development without losing core skills
- Build advanced models using their existing Python or R knowledge
- Develop and share analytical templates that others can build on
- Move into higher-value roles, from reporting to strategic analytics
Local Knowledge Meets National Insight
One of the NHS’s greatest strengths is local contextual knowledge. FDP+ makes this knowledge scalable:
- Analysts can build models tailored to their population’s needs
- These models can then be adapted, validated, and reused by others
- Analysts retain authorship, recognition, and governance over their work
A predictive model built in Leeds might be refined in Liverpool and applied in Leicester — with input from the original creator. This federated model of analytics ensures that local expertise is never lost but amplified.
Data Science, Done Safely
For analysts moving into data science roles, FDP+ ensures:
- Safe development environments — with clear guardrails
- Pre-approved NHS library repositories — including PyPI and CRAN
- Bias detection tools — ensuring fair, equitable models
- Version control and reproducibility — to meet clinical and audit needs
Analysts can innovate with confidence, knowing that their models are traceable, ethical, and fit for healthcare use.
Analyst Impact in the FDP+ World
With FDP+, NHS analysts can:
- Deliver population health insights with richer data
- Automate repetitive reporting tasks and focus on innovation
- Develop predictive tools for operational planning
- Share and collaborate with peers nationally
- Grow into advanced roles — without abandoning foundational skills
In short, they go from reactive report writers to proactive decision-enablers.
Skills Are Not at Risk — They’re the Future
FDP and FDP+ are not threats to the NHS analytical workforce. They are investments in it. These platforms are designed to respect what analysts already know, equip them for new challenges, and connect them to a wider network of peers, data, and opportunities.
By enabling continuity, autonomy, and upskilling, FDP+ helps NHS analysts:
- Continue doing what they do best — but faster, smarter, and at scale
- Apply their skills to new problems, with better tools and support
- Become leaders in a data-driven, federated NHS
If the NHS is to become an intelligent health system, analysts are the enablers. With FDP+, their skills are not only preserved — they are empowered.
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