The Digital Exclusion Risk Atlas (DERA)
The Digital Exclusion Risk Atlas (DERA) is an online location-based analytical tool designed to help health and care system teams understand and identify patterns of digital exclusion across England.
It brings together a range of data indicators to highlight areas where people may face barriers to accessing and using digital health and care services. By improving visibility of these patterns, the Atlas aims to support more targeted interventions and contribute to efforts to reduce health inequalities.
Digital exclusion is influenced by multiple overlapping factors, including access to devices and connectivity, affordability and digital skills or confidence. The Atlas combines these indicators into a single overall risk score, enabling users to explore geographic patterns of digital exclusion and identify areas where the risk may be higher.
As digital healthcare pathways continue to expand, the Atlas will support health and care systems to design and deliver more inclusive digital services.
Access the Digital Exclusion Risk Atlas
Why this matters
Digital exclusion is a recognised driver of health inequalities. As more services become digitally enabled, there is a risk that people who face barriers to access, affordability or digital skills may be left behind. DERA helps systems identify these risks and take action to ensure equitable access to digital health services.
How it works
DERA combines multiple indicators associated with digital exclusion, including connectivity, affordability, digital skills, access to devices and wider demographic factors, into a single risk index.
This allows users to:
- explore patterns of digital exclusion risk across England
- identify areas where the risk may be higher
- compare risk across national, regional and local geographies
- use insights to inform planning, prioritisation and service design
The analysis is presented at Lower Layer Super Output Area (LSOA) level, enabling detailed local insight alongside aggregated views at integrated care board (ICB), regional and national levels.
Who it is for
DERA is designed for a wide range of users across health and care, including:
- Integrated care boards (ICBs)
- NHS providers
- Population health and analytics teams
- Digital and transformation teams
- Local authorities
- Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprise (VCSE) organisations and wider system partners
Access and use
DERA is intended to be an open and accessible source, enabling shared understanding across organisations and sectors.
User guidance, methodology and support contacts are available within the Atlas interface. Further help and resources can also be accessed through our Futures collaboration platform (registration required).
Further information
Guidance on accessing and using the Digital Exclusion Risk Atlas is available on our support site, including:
- user guidance
- frequently asked questions
- webinar recordings
- case studies and examples
The NHS England Healthcare Inequalities Improvement team can be contacted at: england.healthinequalities@nhs.net.
Related content
- Healthcare Inequalities Improvement Programme – NHS England
- NHS inclusive digital healthcare framework – NHS England
- Digital inclusion action plan – GOV.UK
- Digital inclusion action plan: First Steps – GOV.UK
Important information
DERA highlights areas where the risk of digital exclusion may be higher. It should be used alongside local data and insight and does not measure actual levels of digital exclusion.