Campaigners Urge UK Government to Reject Palantir Contract Extension
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Health charities and unions are calling for an exit from the £330 million Federated Data Platform as the deadline for a transition plan arrives.
Campaign groups and medical unions are pressing the UK government to reject a contract extension for Palantir's Federated Data Platform (FDP), a deal valued at up to £330 million over seven years, according to reporting from The Register.
MedAct and Just Treatment are coordinating protests at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, coinciding with a September 30 deadline for Palantir to provide NHS England with an exit plan. The FDP contract, awarded in November 2023, concludes its initial term early next year, though the government holds the option for multiple extensions totaling four years.
Opposition to the platform is widespread. The British Medical Association (BMA), UNISON, and the United Tech and Allied Workers Union have voiced opposition, with the BMA advising members to avoid using the platform for non-direct care due to data security and patient trust concerns. Additionally, the Chief Data and Analytics Officers Network stated the FDP has failed to demonstrate the expected "realised value" and evidence of performance, urging the government to utilize the contract's break clause.
Legislative scrutiny has also intensified. The cross-party Science, Innovation and Technology Committee recommended against extending the contract in 2027, with chair Dame Chi Onwurah warning that the current arrangement leaves the public sector "seriously exposed" to vendor lock-in.
NHS England and Palantir defend the platform, asserting it improves hospital efficiency and reduces care backlogs by linking disparate data systems. Palantir maintains that the NHS retains ownership of all processed data. The company recently expanded its UK government outreach by hiring former Labour Party deputy Tom Watson.