Mistrust of Palantir may affect NHS research as thousands withdraw data, says health minister

UK Health Innovation Minister James Frith warned that public mistrust of US tech firm Palantir could harm NHS research, as 60,000 patients opted out of data sharing between mid-May and mid-July 2026. While Palantir claims its platform cut waiting lists, NHS England noted it cannot prove cause and effect. Amid calls to cancel Palantir's £330 million contract, ministers clarified that adoption of the platform is not mandatory for local health trusts.

Palantir NHS contract controversy

• ▪UK Health Innovation Minister James Frith expressed concern in a letter to Commons health committee chair Layla Moran about public mistrust of Palantir.
• ▪Doctors and patient groups are calling on the UK government to exercise a break clause in Palantir's seven-year National Health Service contract.
• ▪The UK government is deciding whether to cancel Palantir's £330 million contract to operate the National Health Service's federated data platform.

Patient data opt-out surge

• ▪UK Health Innovation Minister James Frith stated that the rise in National Health Service data opt-outs occurred in line with media interest in Palantir's position.
• ▪Opting out of the National Health Service national data sharing mechanism prevents patient records from being used for research and planning but does not stop direct care.
• ▪Between mid-May and mid-July 2026, approximately 60,000 patients withdrew their private medical data from National Health Service research and planning under the national data opt-out.

Federated data platform performance

• ▪National Health Service England reported performance statistics similar to Palantir's but stated it could not draw conclusions about cause and effect.
• ▪Palantir stated that National Health Service trusts using its technology recorded 110,000 additional operations and a 15% reduction in discharge delays for long-stay patients.
• ▪The UK government's statistics watchdog is investigating the performance data reported for the National Health Service federated data platform.

Government policy on platform adoption

• ▪UK Health Innovation Minister James Frith stated that there is no requirement for National Health Service trusts to use the federated data platform.
• ▪A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson stated that the National Health Service federated data platform has never been mandatory for local organisations.

Palantir public values disputes

• ▪London Mayor Sadiq Khan blocked the Metropolitan Police from awarding Palantir a £50 million contract, leading to a lawsuit by Palantir.
• ▪Critics of Palantir's National Health Service contract cite the company's work with the Israeli military and Donald Trump's ICE immigration agency.

Debatable claims

• ▪Public bodies should refuse to contract with Palantir due to its ethical record
• ▪The UK government should cancel Palantir's NHS data contract

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