Health · Healthcare & Policy · 12 hrs ago
Many English NHS trusts reject Palantir patient data system
At least 16 NHS trusts and health boards in England say they do not use Palantir’s data platform.
The system, introduced in March 2024, is part of a £330m deal intended to help NHS organisations share data and improve care.
Some health bodies say it has helped manage waiting lists and schedule surgery, while others say it adds little to their existing systems.
Several trusts have rejected it or returned to older systems after trials, citing alternatives they consider equal or better.
The mixed response matters as the system’s benefits are disputed and some people oppose Palantir’s role in the NHS.
The government must decide whether to use a break clause in the seven-year contract, while two parliamentary committees have called for it to end.
Sixteen NHS trusts and health boards in England said they do not use Palantir’s patient data system, according to freedom of information responses.
Some organisations said the system offered little or no improvement over their existing software, while others said it helped manage waiting lists and schedule surgery.
The £330m Federated Data Platform was introduced in March 2024 as part of a seven-year NHS-Palantir deal.
The government faces a decision on whether to use a break clause in the contract.
Palantir’s role in the NHS has drawn protests and scrutiny, including calls from two parliamentary select committees to end the contract.
- Who
- Sixteen NHS trusts and health boards in England said they do not use Palantir’s system. Palantir operates the platform for the NHS.
- What
- Many NHS bodies are rejecting or not adopting Palantir’s patient data technology, citing alternatives or limited benefits.
- When
- The system was introduced in March 2024. The article was published on 17 October 2026.
- Where
- England.
- Why
- Some health bodies said existing systems offered equal or better functionality, or that the FDP brought limited benefit. Some others said it improved waiting-list management and surgery scheduling.
NHS bodies rejecting or not adopting the FDP
Palantir and NHS bodies reporting benefits
Functionality
NHS bodies rejecting or not adopting the FDP
Some trusts said existing systems offered the same or better functionality, or that the FDP had not brought significant improvements.
Palantir and NHS bodies reporting benefits
Some health bodies said the FDP made waiting-list management easier and improved surgery scheduling.
Value of alternatives
NHS bodies rejecting or not adopting the FDP
Greater Manchester’s care board described the system as “duplicative” and “retrograde”; other trusts cited limited expected benefit from adopting it.
Palantir and NHS bodies reporting benefits
Palantir’s Tom Watson argued that companies able to run the platform would have taken part in an open competition.
The Federated Data Platform was introduced.
Tom Watson was appointed as Palantir’s chief lobbyist.
Watson said companies able to run the FDP would have taken part in an open competition.
The Guardian reported the findings from more than two dozen freedom of information responses.
- Cost of the FDP
- £330m
- Contract term
- Seven years
- Trusts and health boards not using the system
- 16
- System introduction
- March 2024
- FOI responses reviewed
- More than two dozen
What people are saying
Palantir’s system is just not that good
If there are companies that can do it, they would have taken part in free and open competition
it does not appear to provide functionality over and above what we have already
duplicative