MR484 - MORTALITY OF GULF WAR VETERANS
Ministry of Defence (MOD) · Ministerial Department
Expired The latest version ended on 13 February 2023. The September 2026 register still lists the agreement, but its term has passed.
- Reference
- DARS-NIC-148024-P8GSC
- Latest version
- v3.3
- Term of latest version
- 14 February 2022 to 13 February 2023
- Start date
- Before 26 September 2016
- Data controller
- Sole Data Controller
- Commercial purposes
- No
- Sublicensing
- No
- Files released to date
- 0
Why the data was released
Objective for processing
This Data Sharing Agreement permits the retention of the data provided under previous iterations of this Agreement for an interim period. This is a pragmatic approach to provide an active Agreement whilst enabling Ministry of Defence to complete the necessary actions to enable a subsequent application to extend the Agreement meeting all applicable data sharing standards as published in NHS Digital’s website (see: https://digital.nhs.uk/services/data-access-request-service-dars/dars-guidance).
Mortality data was supplied to the Ministry of Defence by the Health and Social Care Information Centre (which has since become NHS Digital) for the purpose of a research study -
MR484 - MORTALITY OF GULF WAR VETERANS.
Armed forces personnel who served in the Gulf War during 1990-1991 report more current ill-health than those who were not deployed. There has been concern expressed that they may also experience higher mortality rates. The aims of this study are to document the mortality experience of UK Gulf War veterans in the 8 years since the end of the war.
Processing activities
Under this Agreement, the data may be securely stored but not otherwise processed. No new data will be provided by NHS Digital under this Agreement.
Mortality data was supplied to the Ministry of Defence by the Health and Social Care Information Centre (which has since become NHS Digital) for the purpose of a research study -
MR484 - MORTALITY OF GULF WAR VETERANS
NHS Digital reminds all organisations party to this agreement of the need to comply with the Data Sharing Framework Contract requirements, including those regarding the use (and purposes of that use) by “Personnel” (as defined within the Data Sharing Framework Contract i.e.: employees, agents and contractors of the Data Recipient who may have access to that data).
Expected output
This Agreement permits the secure retention of the data only and no other processing.
No new outputs will be produced under this Data Sharing Agreement.
The MoD published annual statistics between 2003 and 2016. Annual updates have not been published since 2016.
Expected measurable benefits
This Agreement permits the secure retention of the data only and no other processing.
If an excess of any cause of death or cancer registration is identified, then this will trigger further targeted studies with the aim of influencing policy to improve support and services to veterans of this conflict. Policies targeted will depend on findings however will be raised to the MOD oversight board Members of this board will include representatives from all four nations' healthcare services, relevant charities and MOD policy staff.
If no there are no significant findings no action will be taken; however, these cohorts will be continued to be monitored. If there are any significant findings this will trigger further targeted studies with the aim of influencing policy to improve support and services to veterans of this conflict.
Veterans will benefit from any subsequent improvements in support and services as a result of the study. The MOD and the public (including veterans) will benefit from a better understanding of the possible effects of deployment.
Rates of suicide (and other causes of death) and cancer registrations will be compared to the UK population to identify if there are any excesses.
Benefits reported so far
This Data Sharing Agreement permits the retention of the data for an interim period but no other processing of the data is permitted.
In any future application, the applicant will be required to provide details of the yielded benefits resulting from the study in line with NHS Digital Standards.
The following information provides background information on the yielded benefits of the original study and subsequent data sharing agreement with the then HSCIC.
The previous data sharing agreement enabled analysis on the causes of death amongst the cohorts, followed by the production of annual National Statistics. In doing so, the MOD was able to confirm that there was no excess in deaths (including suicide) amongst the Gulf cohort.
The processing has also enabled active surveillance of the cohort.
A further benefit is that the MOD is setting up an oversight board to consider the findings from this study (alongside the other longitudinal veteran studies).
The board will ensure that any adverse findings are shared in a timely manner and that appropriate interventions are put in place to support veterans. Members will include representatives from all four nations' healthcare services, relevant charities and MOD policy staff.
Datasets on the latest version
Legal basis for provision: Health and Social Care Act 2012 – s261(7)
| Dataset | Type of data | Sensitivity | Frequency | Confidential data |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRIS - Cause of Death Report | Identifiable | Sensitive | Ongoing | Section 251 NHS Act 2006 |
| MRIS - Cohort Event Notification Report | Identifiable | Sensitive | Ongoing | Section 251 NHS Act 2006 |
| MRIS - Flagging Current Status Report | Identifiable | Sensitive | One-Off | Section 251 NHS Act 2006 |
| MRIS - Members and Postings Report | Identifiable | Sensitive | One-Off | Section 251 NHS Act 2006 |
Files released
Files released counts only files released externally by DARS. Access granted in NHS England's own systems, such as its Secure Data Environment, is not included.
No files recorded as released under this agreement.
Version history
The register lists each renewal of this agreement as a separate row. This site has 3 versions — earlier versions existed before this site's records begin.
DARS-NIC-148024-P8GSC-v3.3 14 February 2022 to 13 February 2023
- Title
- MR484 - MORTALITY OF GULF WAR VETERANS
- Commercial
- No
- Sublicensing
- No
- Datasets
- 4
- Files released
- 0
Datasets: MRIS - Cause of Death Report; MRIS - Cohort Event Notification Report; MRIS - Flagging Current Status Report; MRIS - Members and Postings Report
What changed from DARS-NIC-148024-P8GSC-v2.3
Text removed is struck through; text added is underlined. Unchanged paragraphs are summarised rather than repeated.
| Field | Was | Became |
|---|---|---|
| Start date | 2022-02-14 | |
| End date | 2023-02-13 |
Objective for processing
This Data Sharing Agreement permits the retention of the data provided under
[9 words unchanged]
This is a pragmatic approach to provide an active Agreement whilst enabling
[ORGANISATION]
Ministry of Defence
to complete the necessary actions to enable a subsequent application to extend the Agreement meeting all applicable data sharing standards as published in NHS Digital’s website
(see: https://digital.nhs.uk/services/data-access-request-service-dars/dars-guidance).
(see: https://digital.nhs.uk/services/data-access-request-service-dars/dars-guidance).
The following information provides background information on the purpose of the original study:
[3 paragraphs unchanged]
Processing activities
[1 paragraph unchanged]
The study data, including data provided by NHS Digital under previous agreements, are currently held by the Ministry of Defence.
The following provides background on the processing activities undertaken prior to this Agreement:
[3 paragraphs unchanged]
Expected output
This Agreement permits the secure retention of the data only and no other processing.
[1 paragraph unchanged]
This Data Sharing Agreement permits the retention of the data for an interim period but no other processing of the data is permitted.
Permission to retain the data for the interim period is a practical step to enable the study to comply with the necessary legal and ethical requirements. If, for any reason, it is not possible for the study to meet the necessary requirements, this Agreement will be terminated, and destruction of the data will be required
In any future application, the applicant will be required to provide details of the outputs that were produced and disseminated by the study as well as details of any future outputs planned.
The following information provides background information on the expected output activities of the original study and subsequent data sharing agreement with the then HSCIC.
[1 paragraph unchanged]
Expected measurable benefits
This
Data Sharing
Agreement permits the
secure
retention of the data
for an interim period but
only and
no other
processing of the data is permitted.
processing.
Permission to retain the data for the interim period is a practical step to enable the study to comply with the necessary legal and ethical requirements. If, for any reason, it is not possible for the study to meet the necessary requirements, this Agreement will be terminated, and destruction of the data will be required
In any future application, the applicant will be required to provide details of the expected benefits resulting from the study.
The following information provides background information on the expected measurable benefits of the original study and subsequent data sharing agreement with the then HSCIC.
[4 paragraphs unchanged]
Benefits reported
[1 paragraph unchanged]
Permission to retain the data for the interim period is a practical step to enable the study to comply with the necessary legal and ethical requirements. If, for any reason, it is not possible for the study to meet the necessary requirements, this Agreement will be terminated, and destruction of the data will be required
[6 paragraphs unchanged]
DARS-NIC-148024-P8GSC-v2.3 6 August 2020 to 30 November 2020
- Title
- MR484 - MORTALITY OF GULF WAR VETERANS
- Commercial
- No
- Sublicensing
- No
- Datasets
- 4
- Files released
- 0
Datasets: MRIS - Cause of Death Report; MRIS - Cohort Event Notification Report; MRIS - Flagging Current Status Report; MRIS - Members and Postings Report
What changed from DARS-NIC-148024-P8GSC-v1.2
Text removed is struck through; text added is underlined. Unchanged paragraphs are summarised rather than repeated.
| Field | Was | Became |
|---|---|---|
| Start date | 2020-08-06 | |
| End date | 2020-11-30 |
Objective for processing
This Data Sharing Agreement permits the retention of the data provided under previous iterations of this Agreement for an interim period. This is a pragmatic approach to provide an active Agreement whilst enabling [ORGANISATION] to complete the necessary actions to enable a subsequent application to extend the Agreement meeting all applicable data sharing standards as published in NHS Digital’s website
(see: https://digital.nhs.uk/services/data-access-request-service-dars/dars-guidance).
The following information provides background information on the purpose of the original study:
[2 paragraphs unchanged]
This Data Sharing Agreement permits the retention of the data for an interim period but no other processing of the data is permitted.
Permission to retain the data for the interim period is a practical step to enable the study to comply with the necessary legal and ethical requirements. If, for any reason, it is not possible for the study to meet the necessary requirements, this Agreement will be terminated, and destruction of the data will be required.
The following information provides background information on the purpose of the original study:
[1 paragraph unchanged]
Processing activities
NHS Digital reminds all organisations party to this agreement of the need to comply with the Data Sharing Framework Contract requirements, including those regarding the use (and purposes of that use) by “Personnel” (as defined within the Data Sharing Framework Contract i.e.: employees, agents and contractors of the Data Recipient who may have access to that data).
Under this Agreement, the data may be securely stored but not otherwise processed. No new data will be provided by NHS Digital under this Agreement.
The study data, including data provided by NHS Digital under previous agreements, are currently held by the Ministry of Defence.
The following provides background on the processing activities undertaken prior to this Agreement:
[2 paragraphs unchanged]
This Data Sharing Agreement permits the retention of the data for an interim period but no other processing of the data is permitted.
NHS Digital reminds all organisations party to this agreement of the need to comply with the Data Sharing Framework Contract requirements, including those regarding the use (and purposes of that use) by “Personnel” (as defined within the Data Sharing Framework Contract i.e.: employees, agents and contractors of the Data Recipient who may have access to that data).
Permission to retain the data for the interim period is a practical step to enable the study to comply with the necessary legal and ethical requirements. If, for any reason, it is not possible for the study to meet the necessary requirements, this Agreement will be terminated, and destruction of the data will be required.
Unchanged: Expected output, Expected measurable benefits, Benefits reported.
Objective for processing
This Data Sharing Agreement permits the retention of the data provided under previous iterations of this Agreement for an interim period. This is a pragmatic approach to provide an active Agreement whilst enabling [ORGANISATION] to complete the necessary actions to enable a subsequent application to extend the Agreement meeting all applicable data sharing standards as published in NHS Digital’s website
(see: https://digital.nhs.uk/services/data-access-request-service-dars/dars-guidance).
The following information provides background information on the purpose of the original study:
Mortality data was supplied to the Ministry of Defence by the Health and Social Care Information Centre (which has since become NHS Digital) for the purpose of a research study -
MR484 - MORTALITY OF GULF WAR VETERANS.
Armed forces personnel who served in the Gulf War during 1990-1991 report more current ill-health than those who were not deployed. There has been concern expressed that they may also experience higher mortality rates. The aims of this study are to document the mortality experience of UK Gulf War veterans in the 8 years since the end of the war.
Expected output
No new outputs will be produced under this Data Sharing Agreement.
This Data Sharing Agreement permits the retention of the data for an interim period but no other processing of the data is permitted.
Permission to retain the data for the interim period is a practical step to enable the study to comply with the necessary legal and ethical requirements. If, for any reason, it is not possible for the study to meet the necessary requirements, this Agreement will be terminated, and destruction of the data will be required
In any future application, the applicant will be required to provide details of the outputs that were produced and disseminated by the study as well as details of any future outputs planned.
The following information provides background information on the expected output activities of the original study and subsequent data sharing agreement with the then HSCIC.
The MoD published annual statistics between 2003 and 2016. Annual updates have not been published since 2016.
Benefits reported
This Data Sharing Agreement permits the retention of the data for an interim period but no other processing of the data is permitted.
Permission to retain the data for the interim period is a practical step to enable the study to comply with the necessary legal and ethical requirements. If, for any reason, it is not possible for the study to meet the necessary requirements, this Agreement will be terminated, and destruction of the data will be required
In any future application, the applicant will be required to provide details of the yielded benefits resulting from the study in line with NHS Digital Standards.
The following information provides background information on the yielded benefits of the original study and subsequent data sharing agreement with the then HSCIC.
The previous data sharing agreement enabled analysis on the causes of death amongst the cohorts, followed by the production of annual National Statistics. In doing so, the MOD was able to confirm that there was no excess in deaths (including suicide) amongst the Gulf cohort.
The processing has also enabled active surveillance of the cohort.
A further benefit is that the MOD is setting up an oversight board to consider the findings from this study (alongside the other longitudinal veteran studies).
The board will ensure that any adverse findings are shared in a timely manner and that appropriate interventions are put in place to support veterans. Members will include representatives from all four nations' healthcare services, relevant charities and MOD policy staff.
DARS-NIC-148024-P8GSC-v1.2 26 September 2016 to 5 August 2020
- Title
- MR484 - MORTALITY OF GULF WAR VETERANS
- Commercial
- No
- Sublicensing
- No
- Datasets
- 4
- Files released
- 0
Datasets: MRIS - Cause of Death Report; MRIS - Cohort Event Notification Report; MRIS - Flagging Current Status Report; MRIS - Members and Postings Report
Objective for processing
Mortality data was supplied to the Ministry of Defence by the Health and Social Care Information Centre (which has since become NHS Digital) for the purpose of a research study -
MR484 - MORTALITY OF GULF WAR VETERANS.
This Data Sharing Agreement permits the retention of the data for an interim period but no other processing of the data is permitted.
Permission to retain the data for the interim period is a practical step to enable the study to comply with the necessary legal and ethical requirements. If, for any reason, it is not possible for the study to meet the necessary requirements, this Agreement will be terminated, and destruction of the data will be required.
The following information provides background information on the purpose of the original study:
Armed forces personnel who served in the Gulf War during 1990-1991 report more current ill-health than those who were not deployed. There has been concern expressed that they may also experience higher mortality rates. The aims of this study are to document the mortality experience of UK Gulf War veterans in the 8 years since the end of the war.
Expected output
No new outputs will be produced under this Data Sharing Agreement.
This Data Sharing Agreement permits the retention of the data for an interim period but no other processing of the data is permitted.
Permission to retain the data for the interim period is a practical step to enable the study to comply with the necessary legal and ethical requirements. If, for any reason, it is not possible for the study to meet the necessary requirements, this Agreement will be terminated, and destruction of the data will be required
In any future application, the applicant will be required to provide details of the outputs that were produced and disseminated by the study as well as details of any future outputs planned.
The following information provides background information on the expected output activities of the original study and subsequent data sharing agreement with the then HSCIC.
The MoD published annual statistics between 2003 and 2016. Annual updates have not been published since 2016.
Benefits reported
This Data Sharing Agreement permits the retention of the data for an interim period but no other processing of the data is permitted.
Permission to retain the data for the interim period is a practical step to enable the study to comply with the necessary legal and ethical requirements. If, for any reason, it is not possible for the study to meet the necessary requirements, this Agreement will be terminated, and destruction of the data will be required
In any future application, the applicant will be required to provide details of the yielded benefits resulting from the study in line with NHS Digital Standards.
The following information provides background information on the yielded benefits of the original study and subsequent data sharing agreement with the then HSCIC.
The previous data sharing agreement enabled analysis on the causes of death amongst the cohorts, followed by the production of annual National Statistics. In doing so, the MOD was able to confirm that there was no excess in deaths (including suicide) amongst the Gulf cohort.
The processing has also enabled active surveillance of the cohort.
A further benefit is that the MOD is setting up an oversight board to consider the findings from this study (alongside the other longitudinal veteran studies).
The board will ensure that any adverse findings are shared in a timely manner and that appropriate interventions are put in place to support veterans. Members will include representatives from all four nations' healthcare services, relevant charities and MOD policy staff.
Register history
When this agreement appeared in, or was edited in, each monthly edition of the register. Built by comparing every edition this site holds, the earliest of which is July 2021.
-
July 2021 —
already listed in the earliest edition this site holds, so it may be older. 2 versions: DARS-NIC-148024-P8GSC-v1.2, DARS-NIC-148024-P8GSC-v2.3
-
April 2022
1 version added: DARS-NIC-148024-P8GSC-v3.3
Cite this page
NHS England (2026) Data Uses Register, September 2026 edition, agreement DARS-NIC-148024-P8GSC, “MR484 - MORTALITY OF GULF WAR VETERANS”. Read via NHS Data Access Explorer (unofficial), https://healthdatauses.uk/agreements/dars-nic-148024-p8gsc/ (accessed [date]).
This address stays the same, but the page is rebuilt with each monthly edition, so the citation names the edition it shows. Every edition's data is kept in the facts store.
Source: datausesregister_september2026.xlsx, September 2026 edition of the NHS England Data Uses Register. Search that workbook for DARS-NIC-148024-P8GSC to see the original rows.