NHS Staff Boycott FDP Over Ethical Concerns with Palantir

A significant number of NHS staff are refusing to engage with the Federated Data Platform (FDP) due to ethical concerns about its provider, Palantir. Awarded a £330 million contract in 2023, Palantir's involvement in the US defense sector and political affiliations have sparked controversy. Some NHS employees are officially refusing to use the platform, while others are deliberately slow or avoid it, preferring alternative solutions. Despite this, the FDP is operational in 123 of 205 hospital trusts in England and has been praised for its timely and budget-conscious delivery. However, political and medical pressure is mounting on the government to reconsider Palantir's role, with discussions about invoking a contract break clause. Palantir's UK executive vice-chair, Louis Mosley, argues that opposition is ideologically driven and could negatively impact patient care, highlighting a deep divide over the company's management of health data.