The £330 million Federated Data Platform (FDP) developed by US tech firm Palantir for the NHS has been hailed as a revolutionary tool to integrate healthcare data across hospitals, GP practices, and pharmacies. However, new evidence suggests that its effectiveness may be overstated and its adoption patchy at best.
According to an investigation by Peter Geoghegan and Lucas Amin, published in the London Review of Books, nearly two-thirds of NHS trusts are reported to be 'live' on the software. But internal usage data obtained via Freedom of Information requests reveals a concerning disparity between claimed implementation and actual use. In fact, dozens of these trusts appear not to have accessed a single FDP application in the past year.
Furthermore, clinicians have expressed practical concerns about using Palantir's platform. The Cancer 360 tool, previously praised by Keir Starmer as 'groundbreaking new technology', has seen minimal uptake – with only six out of approximately 200 trusts using it over nine months since its launch. One orthopaedic surgeon in Birmingham abandoned Palantir's waiting-list app due to difficulties editing data, labelling it 'a waste of time'. Clinicians have also reported that the FDP is often slower and less efficient than their existing technologies.
Senior NHS leaders, in private briefings obtained by the investigation, have also voiced complaints about the FDP's 'poor user experience', highlighting a disconnect between its ambitious aims and practical application. Palantir maintains it is merely a software provider, with control of the platform lying with individual trusts.
The financial commitment to Palantir's FDP extends beyond the initial £330 million contract. Individual trusts have received up to £3 million each to facilitate implementation, while consultancy firm KPMG has been awarded an £8.5 million contract to promote the FDP across the health service. The controversy has raised questions about the government's relationship with Palantir and whether it aligns with UK values.