The UK health system is facing questions about its partnership with Palantir, a US technology company, as public confidence in the arrangement appears to be declining. Health Innovation Minister James Frith raised concerns in a letter to the Commons health committee chair, noting that the rising number of patients opting out of data sharing could undermine efforts to improve NHS efficiency and patient care through data-driven initiatives.
Between mid-May and mid-July, approximately 60,000 additional patients exercised the national data opt-out mechanism to prevent their medical information from being used in research projects. While Frith characterized this increase as “modest,” he acknowledged it coincided with increased media attention on Palantir’s role within the health service. The government is currently evaluating whether to proceed with or terminate Palantir’s £330m contract to operate the NHS’s federated data platform, which was designed to enhance operational efficiency and clinical outcomes.
Palantir maintains that its artificial intelligence technology has delivered measurable benefits to the NHS, pointing to figures showing 110,000 additional operations, a 15% reduction in discharge delays for long-stay patients, and a 6.8% improvement in cancer diagnoses within 28 days. However, NHS England stated it cannot establish causal links between these improvements and Palantir’s platform. The government’s statistics watchdog is currently investigating the claims.
Opposition to the Palantir contract comes from medical professionals and patient advocacy groups citing the company’s work with Israeli military forces and US immigration enforcement agencies. London’s Mayor Sadiq Khan blocked the Metropolitan Police from awarding Palantir a £50m contract, and the company is pursuing legal action against that decision. Frith indicated a potential policy shift, suggesting NHS trusts may not be required to use the Palantir-powered platform and could select alternative solutions, though the Department of Health stated no change in position has occurred.
Campaign groups and parliamentary oversight bodies have called for the government to terminate the contract and engage a different provider, emphasizing the importance of public trust in NHS data governance.
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