Simplifying Access to Data for the NHS
| Client | NHS Midlands and Lancashire CSU |
| Date | 17.10.2025 |
About NHS Midlands and Lancashire CSU (NHS ML)
NHS ML vision is to be pivotal in supporting major improvements in health and wellbeing for organisations across our partner Integrated Care Systems (ICSs). We are integral to the healthcare systems we work in partnership with, and our philosophy is to face every new challenge and opportunity together with our partners.
Simplifying the process
Understanding which datasets to use in accessibility assessments can be complex, with new releases often arriving in unfamiliar formats. For many end users, the priority is simply generating meaningful outputs while file types such as GZ, GM, PBF, or SHP can feel confusing and irrelevant. When Ordnance Survey released the latest Multi-Modal Routing Network (MRN) data, complete with average speed information, the challenge was clear: how could this detailed dataset be effectively integrated into TRACC to deliver valuable insights?
Historically NHS ML have used shapefiles of OS Highways and speed data provided directly by Basemap. The large size of the road network file meant they would typically split the file geographically using their own GIS software before loading the smaller files into the TRACC remote desktop environment. Unfortunately, this wasn’t a straightforward process and took quite a bit of storage space on their local machines.
As a member of the Ordnance Survey Public Sector Geospatial Agreement (OS PSGA), NHS ML have access to the road network and speed data via OS directly. Last year they explored the feasibility of building their own road network for use within TRACC. However, it became clear again that this wasn’t a straightforward process and would possibly require FME software to process the data, as well as training and time to develop essential skills.
NHS ML welcomed the news that Basemap was working to integrate the Ordnance Survey Multi-modal Routing Network (MRN) data into TRACC.
“Having OS MRN within TRACC is a brilliant development’
Sarah Glover, Business Insight Lead, NHS Midlands and Lancashire
Getting MRN Data
MRN is a fully connected network dedicated to the multi-modal routing of people and goods, designed for use in routing applications. It contains data relating to different transport modes such as walking, cycling and driving including road restriction information and speed data.
This meant that NHS ML could access the data directly through their TRACC licenses. This delivered substantial savings across the board – both in development time and in additional software costs.
The ability to access DataCutter through TRACC also allowed NHS ML to streamline and improve their processes by seamlessly loading public transport data into a TRACC project without the need to download and import the data, ensuring the data is easily accessed to enhance the analysis that can be completed.