The cross-party Science, Innovation and Technology Committee warns that the UK’s increasing reliance on Palantir has created an ‘unacceptable point of weakness’.

It highlights concerns around value for money, transparency, public trust, and the long-term strategic risks of entrusting critical public infrastructure to a single overseas technology provider.

NHS Federated Data Platform

The report, titled Rewiring the state: delivering digital government, recommends that the Government ‘should commit to exercising the 2027 break clause in the NHS Federated Data Platform (FDP) contract’.

It goes on to recommend the Government ‘either develops an in-house replacement or seek an alternative developed by UK-owned and UK-based providers that are more compatible with UK values, and do not pursue either technical or contractual dependencies’.

The report called for a fully-costed exit plan for the FDP by the end of this year.

Poor value for money

Dr David Nicholl, DAUK committee member, said: “This is an excellent report and highlights the warnings that DAUK has been making for more than five years, that Palantir’s FDP provides poor value for money from a company with ethical values that are a million miles away from those of the NHS.

“The Government should publish an exit plan, and look at alternative providers that can deliver better outcomes for patients at less cost, safely, securely and ethically.”

DAUK has consistently raised concerns about the award of the £330 million FDP contract to Palantir. These include the risk of NHS dependency on a single supplier, uncertainty about long-term value for money, questions around transparency in procurement, and the impact of Palantir’s wider activities on public trust in NHS data systems.

Ignored warnings

Dr Steve Taylor, DAUK GP co-lead, added: “There is a growing consensus that Palantir should not be anywhere near public services, and in particular patient data in the NHS.

“DAUK and other groups have been saying this for years, yet governments have continued to ignore the warnings.

“Ministers are public servants first, they need to heed the warnings and use the break clause in 2027. Influence is being bought against the best interests of the public.”

Read the Rewiring the state: delivering digital government report in full.

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Organised by Medact, the fringe event is titled Beyond Palantir – what’s next for the Federated Data Platform?

It takes place from 5pm to 6pm on 10 June at HOME Manchester, a fully accessible venue located a short walk from Manchester Central Convention Complex.

NHS Federated Data Platform

The event comes amid growing parliamentary discussion about the potential for the break clause in the NHS Federated Data Platform contract with Palantir to be triggered in 2027.

DAUK has consistently opposed the involvement of Palantir in the NHS data and has raised concerns regarding transparency, governance, and public confidence.

A panel of data and health equity experts have been invited to speak at the event and there will be the possibility for questions and discussion. 

Speakers include:

• Matt Hennessey, chief data and analytics officer, Greater Manchester ICB
• Marc Farr, chair, NHS Chief Data and Analytical Officer Network, Advisory Board member, APHA National Data Advisory Group
• Emma Runswick, deputy chair of Council, British Medical Association 

Sign up on the Medact website.

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Speaking to John Pienaar on Times Radio, DAUK committee member Dr Nicholl said longstanding concerns about Palantir’s record remain.

Dr Nicholl, who works in Birmingham, highlighted worries about reported racial bias linked to Palantir’s work in the United States, warning that such issues could disproportionately affect diverse NHS communities.

He also challenged claims Palantir was essential to the UK’s Covid vaccine rollout, saying that Wales delivered vaccines faster without the company’s platform.

“There has been a lot of overselling,” he said.

Referencing a report in the British Medical Journal, Dr Nicholl said results of a pilot at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust used pandemic-peak baselines to exaggerate performance gains.

Listen to Dr Nicholl’s interview on our Instagram page.

We are a non-profit campaigning and lobbying organisation led by frontline doctors, for frontline doctors. We are volunteers and our collective aim is to give frontline workers a voice to be heard.

Please support our work by contributing to our crowd funder.

The briefing, titled Who controls our health data, was co-hosted by DAUK and was part of DAUK’s Our data, our NHS campaign.

It brought together MPs, clinicians, and patient organisations in what Dr David Nicholl, DAUK committee member who is leading the campaign, described as a ‘unified front’ on the future of NHS data.

Westminster briefing

Dr Nicholl said: “The briefing couldn’t have gone better – it was like political speed dating.

“There were MPs from across the political spectrum including from the Liberal Democrats, Labour, SNP, and independents, with the exception of Conservatives and Reform.

“It shows this issue is firmly on the radar of MPs.”

The NHS Federated Data Platform (FDP) is a £330m contract awarded to US tech giant Palantir which is up for renewal next year.

The cross-party Westminster briefing was attended by Foxglove Legal, the BMA, Just Treatment, and Viscount Hanworth, and was sponsored by Liberal Democrat MP Martin Wrigley.

It came at an important moment, with a Westminster Hall debate on the issue expected next month.

Palantir contract

Dr Nicholl said MPs in attendance were keen to get a better understanding of the Palantir contract, what it means for patients and the NHS, and what future options are.

He said: “Some MPs didn’t understand why this had happened, but were very receptive.

“They appreciated getting our input, and hearing from patient organisations too. There was a sense of shared concern.”

With the contract due for renewal next year, DAUK is urging policymakers to reassess and consider alternatives.

Our Data, Our NHS campaign

DAUK has long campaigned against Palantir’s involvement in the NHS, citing concerns about data governance, transparency, and value for money.

We have argued that the Federated Data Platform has been oversold and fails to provide meaningful improvements over existing systems.

Dr Nicholl said: “The contract has under-delivered.

“Colleagues using the FDP don’t feel it’s value for money. It’s really oversold and replicates things that existing electronic patient records are already doing.”

UK-based alternatives

He added that the upcoming renewal represents a crucial opportunity to rethink the NHS’s digital strategy.

“We need to make sure this doesn’t happen again, and look at alternatives that are more UK-based, with fewer risks attached,” he said.

Visit the Our Data, Our NHS campaign page to learn more about the campaign and to contact your MP.

We are a non-profit campaigning and lobbying organisation led by frontline doctors, for frontline doctors. We are volunteers and our collective aim is to give frontline workers a voice to be heard.

Please support our work by contributing to our crowd funder.

Dr David Nicholl, DAUK committee member, said he feared hundreds of millions of pounds have been wasted on the NHS Federated Data Platform (FDP) at a time when frontline services were under unprecedented strain.

It follows a report in the Guardian that NHS officials warned in 2025 that public perception of Palantir would hinder the roll-out of the system.

Public perception

The Guardian reported: “By last summer fewer than half of health authorities in England had started using the technology amid opposition from the public and doctors.”

The report also referenced concerns raised by the BMA on behalf of its members about links between Palantir and the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

Meanwhile, The Times reported on comments by investor Michael Burry that ‘Emperor Palantir has no clothes’.

DAUK has consistently challenged Palantir’s involvement in the NHS since it first raised concerns five years ago.

FDP contract

In 2023, NHS England awarded Palantir the FDP contract valued at around £330 million, which was described at the time by DAUK as a ‘terrible deal’.

Dr Nicholl said the size of the contract was ‘galling’.

“We spent hundreds of millions of pounds on this, which could have been used for direct patient care, when NHS England didn’t even complete the pilot study,” he said.

Waste of money

“It has been forced on trusts by NHS England. It feels like a spectacular waste of money.”

Dr Nicholl said DAUK had previously attempted to challenge the procurement process through the courts.

He questioned how the contract was allowed to proceed when, as early as 2019, senior civil servants were meeting Palantir executives.

Dr Nicholl said: “DAUK has been speaking about this for more than five years. Sadly, it feels like a case of we told you so.

Alternatives

“There were alternatives. British tech companies that could have helped solve the same problems yet, instead, we’re investing in a controversial US firm.

“I find it very upsetting when I think what we could have invested that money in,” he added.

We are a non-profit campaigning and lobbying organisation led by frontline doctors, for frontline doctors. We are volunteers and our collective aim is to give frontline workers a voice to be heard.

Please support our work by contributing to our crowd funder.

Spokesperson Dr David Nicholl has contributed to an article exploring the firm’s contracts with the UK Government.

The article in Middle East Eye highlighted the opposition of DAUK, the BMA and others in opposing the company’s contract for the NHS Federated Data Platform.

DAUK expressed ‘serious concerns’ at the time the contract was awarded.

Palantir NHS contract

Now Dr Nicholl has warned that the involvement of Palantir in the NHS was harming public confidence.

He said: “One of DAUK’s key missions is patient safety, and the involvement of Palantir in the NHS is having an adverse effect on patient trust in how their data is handled.”

Dr Nicholl added that there were also concerns about links between Palantir and the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Read the article in Middle East Eye in full.

DAUK’s committee members are all volunteers. They campaign and speak in the media about issues facing doctors in their own time. Please support our work by joining DAUK or donating to our GoFundMe.