NHS staff refusing to use FDP over Palantir ethical concerns

A growing number of NHS staff are reportedly refusing to work on the Federated Data Platform (FDP) due to ethical concerns with its US-based provider, Palantir. The US technology company was awarded a £330 million contract in 2023 to collate operational data, including patient information and waiting lists. However, Palantir's involvement in the US defence sector and its leadership's political affiliations have made the partnership contentious.

Senior health officials and data analysts have described a "workplace adjustment" where employees officially refuse to engage with the software. Some staff members reportedly work as slowly as possible when pressured to use the platform, while others avoid it entirely, citing better alternatives. Despite this resistance, 123 of 205 hospital trusts in England are currently using the FDP, and the project has received a high rating for on-time and on-budget delivery.

The government is currently under pressure from MPs and medical unions to eject the company from NHS systems. Reports suggest that ministers have sought advice on triggering a contract break clause. While Louis Mosley, the executive vice-chair of Palantir in the UK, maintains that such campaigns are ideologically motivated and could harm patient care, the level of dissent underscores a significant divide over the company's suitability to manage national health data.

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