The UK health minister confirmed that while NHS trusts can choose not to adopt the Palantir Federated Data Platform (FDP), patients' data is automatically processed if their trust uses the platform. Patients can only opt out of secondary data uses such as research, not the primary care functions enabled by the FDP.
- Patients cannot opt out of primary FDP data use but can for secondary uses.
- 168 of 214 NHS trusts currently use Palantir’s data platform.
- Government may renew Palantir contract beyond February 2027.
What happened
Health minister Preet Kaur Gill informed Parliament that patients in England do not have the option to opt out of their data being processed by the Palantir-developed NHS Federated Data Platform (FDP). However, local NHS trusts can decide not to use the platform and instead procure alternative data solutions that meet required standards. The minister clarified that the national opt-out scheme applies only to secondary uses of data, such as research and planning, not to the primary data processing necessary for direct patient care within the FDP.
Most NHS trusts have opted in, with statistics showing 168 of 214 trusts signed up, 123 live users, and 80 reporting benefits from the platform. This widespread adoption is despite growing public and parliamentary scrutiny of Palantir’s role—an organisation also involved with controversial agencies—which has led to multiple parliamentary questions and calls for NHS to end its association with the company.
Why it matters
The inability for patients to opt out of their data being processed by Palantir in the FDP raises concerns about privacy and trust in the NHS data infrastructure. The decision to limit user opt-outs to secondary data use puts pressure on transparency and safeguards surrounding how patient information is handled within critical healthcare systems. This issue is heightened by recent revelations that Palantir staff have administrative access to identifiable patient data, generating public anxiety about data security and oversight.
At the organisational level, giving NHS trusts the ability to opt out of using the FDP allows flexibility and local control but also fragments the data ecosystem. This divergence could impact interoperability and the consistent delivery of national health priorities. The situation is compounded by the ongoing government review of Palantir’s contract, scheduled for a decision in 2027, which will determine the platform’s future in the NHS and whether equivalent solutions can be deployed in its place.
What to watch next
Stakeholders should monitor the UK government’s decisions regarding the renewal or termination of Palantir’s contract for the NHS FDP, expected by February 2027. This decision will significantly influence the platform’s continued role within NHS England’s data infrastructure and inform future policy on data governance and vendor partnerships.
Additionally, how NHS trusts exercise their procurement autonomy and whether more will choose alternatives to Palantir’s platform might shape the landscape of digital health data management in the UK. Ongoing parliamentary scrutiny and public opinion regarding patient data use and privacy protections will also be critical to watch as they could drive regulatory or operational changes in how healthcare data is handled nationally.