Mistrust of Palantir blamed as patients withdraw data from NHS research

Health innovation minister James Frith said he was worried about “mistrust” of US defence and health tech company Palantir and “the impact it could have on people’s willingness to share data with the NHS”.

The government is deciding whether to end Palantir’s £330m contract to operate the NHS federated data platform, which is intended to improve efficiency and patient outcomes.

Frith made the comments in a letter to Layla Moran, chair of the Commons health committee, following an increase in patients opting out of having their medical data shared.

Between mid-May and mid-July, 60,000 more people withdrew their private information through the national data opt-out.

The mechanism allows patients to prevent their confidential information being used for research and planning. Opting out does not prevent records being used for direct care, such as live operations.

Doctors and patient groups have called on Labour to exercise a break clause in Palantir’s seven-year contract.

They have cited the company’s work with the Israeli military and Donald Trump’s ICE immigration agency, while also questioning its claim to provide value for money.

Palantir and its supporters say its AI-driven technology has cut NHS waiting lists for surgery.

A spokesperson for the company said it was “helping to deliver better care, with trusts using it recording 110,000 additional operations, a 15 per cent reduction in discharge delays for long-stay patients and a 6.8 per cent improvement in the number of people finding out whether or not they have cancer within 28 days”.

NHS England has reported similar figures but said it could not “draw conclusions about cause and effect”. The government’s statistics watchdog is investigating the data.

Frith told Moran there had been an increase in NHS data opt-outs in line with media interest in Palantir’s position.

Palantir’s government contracts have faced controversy after ministers apologised when it emerged that the company’s staff had access to identifiable patient data.

London mayor Sadiq Khan has blocked the Metropolitan Police from awarding Palantir a £50m contract to use its AI to support investigations.

He said Londoners wanted to see public money paid only to companies that “share the values of our city”. Palantir is suing over the decision.

Frith described the rise in opt-outs as “modest” but said it would still be monitored.

He said: “It may not be possible to realise the benefits of the 10-year health plan if patients stop sharing their data.”