Doctors’ Association UK (DAUK) has reiterated its long-standing opposition to the NHS data contract with Palantir.
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.
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