NHS Contract Scrutiny: Palantir Links Exposed

Senior health officials in England have revealed financial and professional links to Palantir, the US tech firm building the NHS's £330 million Federated Data Platform (FDP). These disclosures come as the contract faces growing scrutiny. Figures like Tim Peachey, a non-executive director at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, previously served on Palantir's UK health advisory board. Peter Thomas, an executive director at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, previously held Palantir shares, though he is no longer a shareholder.

Further connections include Alex Crossley, director of transformation strategy at NHS England, who sold his Palantir shares in 2024, and William Monaghan, chief digital information officer, who reported minor Palantir shareholdings in January 2021. Leanne Summers, assistant director for data governance, reported a friendship with a former line manager now employed by Palantir. These declarations are in line with NHS England's conduct rules, but experts question the management of potential conflicts of interest.

The FDP contract, awarded in November 2023, is intended to link disparate data sets and improve efficiency. However, its effectiveness has been questioned, with an underlying dataset containing errors. The UK statistics watchdog has investigated claims surrounding the platform's performance. Concerns have also been raised about Palantir staff potentially accessing identifiable patient information without full disclosure, further eroding public trust.