NHS England Seeks Verification of Palantir's Performance Claims

NHS England CEO Sir Jim Mackey plans to instruct Palantir to clear any future claims regarding the benefits of its Federated Data Platform (FDP) with his team, according to reporting from The Register. The move comes amid scrutiny over evidence used to promote the £330 million contract awarded to a Palantir-led consortium in November 2023.

During testimony before the Health and Social Care Committee, Labour MP Ben Coleman noted that while NHS England cautioned against attributing improvements directly to the platform, Palantir UK senior vice president Tom Watson has claimed the software is driving positive changes. In a video, Watson cited benefit figures from Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, University Hospitals of Derby and Burton, and Northampton General Hospital. While Watson admitted it cannot be proven that every procedure happened because of the software, he argued the hospital reports should not be ignored.

However, the evidence has faced significant challenges. The Register reports that a Freedom of Information request revealed nearly one-third of trusts using the platform were performing fewer patient procedures than before it went live, contradicting NHS England's earlier claim that 137 of 139 trusts reported benefits. Additionally, the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR) noted that NHS England had to clarify its performance claims, as the agency could not draw conclusions on cause and effect without controlling for variables such as industrial action or staffing levels.

While Sir Jim Mackey expressed a desire for Palantir to share and clear benefit claims, he admitted to the committee that such requirements may be difficult to enforce contractually. To address these concerns, NHS England awarded a contract to Imperial College Projects in February 2026 for an independent evaluation of the FDP, though results are not expected until after ministers decide on a contract extension beyond March 2027.