NHS Digital is the authoritative free source. UKDataAPI aggregates multiple NHS datasets into one postcode-queryable API with health indicators.
NHS Digital (now part of NHS England) publishes vast quantities of health data — from GP practice details and hospital performance to prescribing statistics and disease prevalence. The data is free and open, but it's scattered across dozens of separate datasets, APIs, and download portals, each with different formats, authentication methods, and update schedules. The Organisation Data Service (ODS), CQC ratings, Fingertips indicators, and prescribing data all live in different places. UKDataAPI's Health endpoint aggregates the key datasets into a single postcode query: nearby GP practices and hospitals with CQC ratings, public health indicators (life expectancy, obesity, smoking rates), and prescribing data. For developers building health tech platforms, care navigation tools, or public health dashboards, UKDataAPI replaces the complexity of stitching together multiple NHS APIs.
| Feature | UKDataAPI | NHS Digital |
|---|---|---|
| GP practice directory | Nearby practices with CQC ratings | ✓Full ODS directory of all practices |
| Hospital information | Nearby hospitals with CQC ratings | ✓Full hospital dataset |
| CQC inspection ratings | ✓Ratings for nearby providers | Full CQC data via separate API |
| Public health indicators | Life expectancy, obesity, smoking rates | 1,700+ indicators via Fingertips |
| Prescribing data | Nearby practice count and summary | ✓Full prescribing data by practice and drug |
| Postcode-level health profiling | ✓Single call for health landscape | Manual assembly from multiple datasets |
| Data aggregation | ✓CQC + Fingertips + ODS in one call | Separate APIs and downloads per dataset |
| Output format | ✓Structured JSON API | Multiple formats: CSV, API, FHIR, XML |
| Batch processing | ✓Up to 500 req/min | Varies by dataset — some rate-limited |
| Data depth and granularity | Key indicators per postcode | ✓Full clinical and operational datasets |
| Cost | From £0.005/call (200 free credits/month) | ✓Free — NHS open data |
| AI agent access (MCP/x402) | ✓Native support | Not available |
UKDataAPI
From £0.005/call (summary) to £0.025/call (full). Pay-as-you-go. Free tier: 200 credits/month.
NHS Digital
Free. NHS open data published under OGL. Multiple download portals and APIs available.
curl -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \ "https://www.ukdatapi.com/api/v1/health/LS1%204AP?depth=standard" # Returns: nearby GPs and hospitals with CQC ratings, # health indicators (life expectancy, obesity, smoking), # prescribing summary # Cost: 12 credits (£0.025)
200 free credits. No contract. No credit card.
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