NHS staff revolt over Palantir's £330m data platform amid ethical concerns

A growing number of NHS workers are refusing to use Palantir's health data platform over ethical worries. Staff now treat their refusal as a workplace adjustment, similar to disability accommodations. The dispute comes as UK ministers face pressure to end the company's £330 million contract with the NHS. In 2023, Palantir secured a £330 million deal to build the Federated Data Platform (FDP) for the NHS. The system pulls together operational data, including waiting lists, staffing levels, patient records and theatre schedules. By February 2025, 123 out of 205 hospital trusts in England had adopted the platform, with 80 reporting measurable benefits.

Yet opposition has grown among staff, MPs and medical unions. Some workers now slow down or avoid tasks linked to the FDP, citing ethical concerns about Palantir's role in national healthcare. Health Secretary Wes Streeting recently acknowledged these worries in a podcast interview.

The FDP itself holds the highest 'green rating' for on-time and on-budget delivery. But mounting criticism has pushed ministers to consider activating a break clause in the contract. This could remove Palantir from NHS data systems entirely. The dispute highlights tensions between operational efficiency and ethical concerns in NHS data management. With staff treating their refusal as a formal workplace adjustment, the government now faces a decision on the platform's future. Any move to terminate the contract would mark a major shift in how the NHS handles its data systems.