Palantir NHS data platform usage dispute
Twenty-nine NHS trusts say they are not using Palantir's £330m platform. NHS England has deleted claims of wider benefit while ministers weigh extending the contract to 2029.
IllustrationThe story so far
In early November 2026, twenty-nine hospital trusts told officials that Palantir's £330m federated data platform was not live or in use. A senior health official described the gap between the official list and reality as very misleading. Health Secretary Yvette Cooper faced calls to end the contract, while Palantir's UK and Europe chief argued that doing so would put politics above patients.
WhatsApp messages revealed that Palantir lobbied former health minister Zubir Ahmed to include GP records in the platform. The company argued that joining primary and secondary care data was unarguable. Doctor and patient groups opposed the move over trust concerns, even as reports suggested the contract might be extended.
NHS England subsequently deleted a claim that 137 trusts were benefiting from the system. Official figures also showed that only five or six trusts were using the Cancer 360 app. Two trusts cited for successful pilots had zero unique users in the last twelve months, prompting the statistics watchdog to examine the claims.
Latest updates
4 updates · newest first- 13 NovNew development
Palantir's NHS cancer app has few users despite praise
Official figures show only five or six NHS trusts are using Cancer 360, Palantir's app on the 330 million Federated Data Platform, despite praise for cutting diagnosis times. NHS England said five trusts were using it as of March 2026 and only two were benefiting, while October data said six trusts were using it and five were benefiting. NHS England replies show two trusts cited for successful pilots had zero unique users in the last 12 months.
The Register ↗
- 12 NovNew development
NHS England deletes claim 137 trusts benefit from Palantir AI system
NHS England deleted a claim that 137 hospital trusts were benefiting from Palantir's AI health data system after 29 said they were not using all or most of it. The deletion follows a list describing trusts as live with the federated data platform, which is meant to improve patient outcomes and speed up bed discharges. It comes as ministers weigh extending Palantir's £330m contract to 2029 and the statistics watchdog examines the claims.
The Guardian ↗
- 9 NovNew development
Palantir lobbied UK minister to bring NHS GP records into its AI
WhatsApp messages show Palantir urged former UK health minister Zubir Ahmed to extend its AI platform to GP records, even though GP data were excluded from its £330 million NHS England contract. The company, co-founded by Peter Thiel, argued that joining primary and secondary care data was unarguable and that its software was ideal. Doctor and patient groups oppose the move over trust concerns, as reports suggest the contract may be extended.
- 2 NovNew development
29 NHS trusts say Palantir platform is not in use
Twenty-nine hospital trusts that NHS England lists as benefiting from Palantir's £330m federated data platform said the system is not live or that they are not using its applications. A senior health official called the gap very misleading. The finding comes as Health Secretary Yvette Cooper faces calls to end the contract, while Palantir's UK and Europe chief said doing so would put politics above patients.