DHSC Permanent Secretary apologises for Palantir consultancy rule breach

Samantha Jones, the Permanent Secretary at the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), has been reprimanded by the Civil Service Commission (CSC) for breaching rules on private sector consultancy appointments.

An inquiry initiated by the First Civil Service Commissioner, Baroness Gisela Stuart, revealed that Jones had advised Carnall Farrar, a healthcare consultancy in a consortium with the US technology firm Palantir, while serving as a departmental non-executive director. Palantir subsequently secured a controversial £330 million NHS contract to supply its Federated Data Platform (FDP). Jones also admitted to executing unapproved work for three additional health-tech and pharmaceutical companies, alongside roles advising twelve other private healthcare providers that held public contracts.

Jones apologised for the unauthorised appointments, classifying the rule breaches as administrative oversights made in good faith. While the department maintained that Jones acted transparently and appropriately declared all interests, campaign groups have called for her resignation and argued she should be recused from decisions concerning Palantir's contract.

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