NHS Hospitals Under Pressure to Reject £330m Data Platform
NHS hospitals are facing calls from a coalition of doctors, human rights organisations, and campaigners to reconsider adopting a major data platform built by US tech giant Palantir. The NHS Federated Data Platform (FDP), valued at up to £330 million, is designed to consolidate information from across the health service, enabling hospitals to analyse data more efficiently and enhance care delivery. Supporters argue that the technology is already aiding in treating more patients and alleviating service pressures, but critics highlight significant concerns regarding privacy, ethics, and the involvement of large technology corporations in handling sensitive public sector data.
Contract Awarded to Palantir Amid Controversy
In 2023, NHS England awarded the contract for the FDP to Palantir, a company co-owned by Peter Thiel, a close ally of former US President Donald Trump. The platform aims to connect operational data, including details on waiting lists, hospital capacity, and patient pathways, to improve resource allocation and care planning. Palantir asserts that its technology is already enhancing NHS operations, but the deal has sparked strong opposition from healthcare workers and groups like Medact, which has published a briefing urging NHS bodies to rethink adoption.
Dr Rhiannon Mihranian Osborne, a vocal critic, has called for the contract to be scrapped, telling Sky News that staff are "horrified" by Palantir's involvement, warning it "could seriously damage trust in our health system." She urged local hospitals to prioritise patient and worker interests over those of American big tech corporations, noting that the rollout has faced challenges, including spiralling implementation costs and the risk of displacing trusted local data solutions.
Human Rights Concerns and International Scrutiny
The debate has drawn in international human rights organisations, with Matt Mahmoudi, a researcher at Amnesty International, criticising Palantir for its "track record of flagrantly disregarding international law and standards." He cited concerns over human rights violations involving migrants in the United States and the company's supply of AI products to the Israeli military, urging public institutions to reconsider partnerships with Palantir.
In response, Palantir defended its role, stating that its software "is playing an important role in improving patient care" by contributing to 100,000 additional operations, a 12% reduction in discharge delays, and the removal of 675,000 patients from waiting lists. The company emphasised that data processing occurs strictly under NHS instructions, with no intention or means to misuse information, labelling such suggestions as illegal and in breach of contract.
NHS Defends Modernisation Efforts
An NHS spokesperson defended the platform, highlighting its benefits in joining up care, speeding up cancer diagnoses, and enabling thousands of additional treatments monthly. They confirmed that Palantir was appointed in compliance with public contract regulations, with all data access remaining under NHS control and protected by strict confidentiality obligations. Health officials view the system as part of a broader push to modernise the NHS and leverage data to manage demand and improve patient outcomes, despite ongoing protests and ethical debates surrounding the partnership.
