The NHS Federated Data Platform (FDP) is being introduced in Cambridgeshire despite mounting concerns about data security and its links to US tech company Palantir.
The platform, announced by NHS England in March 2024, is designed to improve the sharing of patient data but has raised questions over privacy and ethical implications.
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CUH) has adopted the FDP, with the first component, Optica, due to go live by the end of the year. Optica aims to coordinate care teams so patients receive essential equipment, medication, and support outside hospital.
To achieve this, the platform requires access to sensitive personal data previously handled only by the NHS.
Critics argue that the involvement of Palantir, a firm specializing in artificial intelligence and military surveillance technology, poses significant risks. Founded with CIA funding in 2003, Palantir provides technology to the US military, ICE, the UK Ministry of defense, and the Israeli government. Campaigners fear that NHS data could potentially be shared with police or military bodies.
Palantir special advisor Stephen Childs claimed the system is already improving hospital efficiency, stating that “Where FDP has already been deployed, it’s reducing the longest unnecessary hospital stays by an average of 17.2 per cent.” CEO Alex Karp also defended the firm, saying it “does not buy, sell or transfer the data it handles and that the data ultimately belongs to the government client.”
However, Freedom of Information requests by Corporate Watch, along with testimonies gathered by campaign group No Palantir in the NHS, suggest that uptake remains limited. The report published in August found “Only 34 trusts (just under 15 per cent) were actively using the platform and its products.” Some trusts have reportedly rejected the FDP citing technical issues and a step backwards compared to existing systems.
Healthcare workers have also raised concerns about Palantir’s involvement, particularly given allegations linking the company to Israeli military operations in Gaza. Palantir has denied these claims, stating: “These statements are not true. Both capabilities are independent of and pre-date Palantir’s announced partnership with the Israeli Defense Ministry. Additionally, we have no involvement with the Lavender database used by the IDF for targeting identification.”
The company added: “We have no relationship to these programs and their use, but are proud to support Israeli defense and national security missions in other programs and contexts.”
The rollout in Cambridge highlights the ongoing controversy over whether Palantir is a suitable partner for the NHS, with campaigners urging greater transparency and safeguards for patient data.
