Data infrastructure for a healthy nation

Physical inactivity costs the UK economy over £20 billion each year in healthcare costs and lost productivity. Despite strong evidence on the health benefits of regular activity, millions of people still face barriers to participation - often because they can’t find clear, local information on what’s available.

The OpenActive data standards, funded by Sport England and stewarded by The Open Data Institute makes it possible to describe millions of activity sessions across the country in a consistent, searchable format. This allows healthcare professionals, digital tools, and the public to find tailored sessions based on location, timing, accessibility, and condition-specific needs.

By embedding the OpenActive standards into digital health tools and local services, professionals can recommend trusted activities that support rehabilitation, mental health, and long-term conditions.

Data Infrastructure for a Healthy Nation highlights how improving access to physical activity through better data infrastructure could support preventative care, improve patient outcomes, and reduce long-term demand on NHS services. The white paper calls for coordinated action to scale this success nationally, including:

• Formal recognition of open data standards as part of national infrastructure.
• Integration into NHS preventative health, social prescribing, and digital health pathways.
• A new data institution to steward open public service standards.