UK government may scrap Palantir's £330m NHS data deal amid backlash

The UK government is reviewing Palantir's role in the NHS after growing opposition to its data management contract. Ministers may activate a break clause in the £330 million deal, which was signed in 2023 to build the NHS's Federated Data Platform (FDP). Critics, including MPs, medical unions and NHS staff, have raised concerns about the company's involvement in handling sensitive health information.

Palantir was awarded the contract to develop the FDP, a system designed to centralise NHS operational data. This includes waiting lists, staffing levels, patient records and operating theatre schedules. By February, 123 out of 205 hospital trusts in England had adopted the platform, with 80 reporting measurable improvements.

The project has received the highest 'green rating' for on-time and on-budget delivery. Yet resistance within the NHS has intensified. Some staff are refusing to work on the FDP, citing ethical objections. Others have framed their refusal as a 'workplace adjustment', comparable to accommodations made for disabilities. A few have deliberately slowed their work when pressured to engage with Palantir's systems. Louis Mosley, Palantir's UK chief, confirmed the existence of a contract review clause but warned that removing the company could disrupt patient care. Despite this, pressure on ministers to sever ties continues to build.

The potential termination of Palantir's contract would mark a significant shift in how the NHS manages its data infrastructure. If the break clause is triggered, the government will need to find an alternative solution for the FDP. The outcome will determine whether the platform's reported benefits can be maintained without the company's involvement.