NHS England has confirmed that staff from tech firm Palantir can access patient data through an administration role, sparking concerns over data protection and security.
The revelation came as part of a Freedom of Information request, which revealed that Palantir employees can gain access to the National Data Integration Tenant (NDIT), a system containing identifiable patient information.
The National Data Integration Tenant is a centralised data platform that integrates patient data from various NHS systems, allowing for more efficient and effective care.
However, the news has raised concerns among data protection experts, who warn that granting administrative access to third-party staff could put patient data at risk.
'This is a serious breach of trust and a clear example of the NHS failing to protect sensitive patient data,' said Dr. Julia Powles, a data protection expert at the University of Cambridge.
NHS England has stated that it will review its access controls and data governance procedures to ensure that patient data is properly secured.