The National Health Service (NHS) in the UK has paused plans to train staff on technology developed by the US firm Palantir, citing fears of a backlash. The decision comes amid mounting pressure from Labour MPs and pro-Palestine advocacy groups who are calling for the termination of Palantir's £330 million contract with the NHS.
Palantir has been instrumental in developing a new data platform for the NHS, intended to consolidate information across the health service for improved analysis and patient care. Official figures indicate that the Federated Data Platform (FDP), since its introduction, has facilitated an additional 110,000 operations. More than half of NHS trusts currently utilize this platform, with full adoption anticipated by April 2028.
The training session in question was organized for a national webinar by a senior member of the NHS Information Skills Development Network (ISDN). However, the session was reportedly blocked by ISDN leaders who did not wish to be "associated with it" due to negative press surrounding Palantir. The firm has faced criticism for also providing technology to US immigration enforcement and the Israeli army.
Tom Bartlett, a former deputy director of data engineering at NHS England and the individual who was to lead the training, stated that he was informed the ISDN bosses felt it was "not the right time" for the session given the ongoing media scrutiny. Bartlett, who has no direct affiliation with Palantir, believes the company has been subjected to misinformation and intimidation. He recounted instances of being called a "genocide-supporter" and witnessing protesters outside Palantir's headquarters, which he argues has created a "culture of silence."
Palantir's UK boss, Louis Mosley, has defended the contract, calling it "irresponsible" to scrap it given its contribution to patient care. However, the future of the contract, which is up for review next year, remains uncertain. The Labour-led Science and Technology Committee and the British Medical Association have both advocated for its cancellation.
NHS England stated that while they do not run ISDN events, free sessions on the FDP are available if NHS staff require further information about the technology. The organization recently commissioned an independent evaluation of Palantir's tracking tools in hospitals after an analysis suggested its data software did not improve discharge rates, contradicting earlier claims by NHS England of a 15 percent reduction in delayed discharges.