NHS organisations across England are rejecting patient data technology provided by the US company Palantir. Freedom of Information (FOI) responses reveal that many health bosses believe they can find alternatives that are either better or equal to Palantir's system.
While some health bodies noted that the £330m federated data platform (FDP) had improved waiting list management and surgery scheduling, others, from Gateshead to Truro, stated they were declining its use or had reverted to older systems after trials. A Suffolk trust indicated that other systems "supercede" the FDP's functionality, and Greater Manchester's care board described the Palantir system as "duplicative" and "retrograde".
More than two dozen FOI responses reviewed by the Guardian show that 16 trusts and health boards have declared they do not use the FDP since its introduction in March 2024. Reasons given include the system not offering additional functionality over existing tools or having limited expected benefit.
The government is facing a decision on whether to exercise a break clause in its seven-year deal with Palantir. This comes amid protests against the company's involvement and concerns about the system's effectiveness and public trust.