Health committee members have voiced significant concerns over the proposed use of Palantir technology within NHS data systems, citing issues of trust, accountability, and patient data protection. The committee stressed the importance of maintaining stringent safeguards for NHS data and expressed profound concerns regarding Palantir's ethics, motivations, and practices.
During a meeting of the Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee, Councillor Joseph Croft, Chair of the committee, outlined his reservations about Palantir's involvement in the NHS federated data platform. He stated, any rollout must be paused until the strongest possible safeguards, transparency and independent oversight are clearly in place to protect patient data now and for the future.
These concerns were echoed by Shirley Franklin, a convener of the Defend the Whittington Hospital Coalition, who questioned why Whittington Hospital was proceeding with staff training on Palantir systems despite stated opposition. Franklin noted that the truth is that they're training people up in it. And they have used our health monies to pay Palantir to train their staff. Some of their staff, not all of their staff, but they are training people up.
Councillor Mick Gilgunn also expressed strong opposition, referencing a legal challenge by the Good Law Project. The primary reason for this challenge is the significant redaction of the contract, with Gilgunn noting that 417 pages out of 568 pages of the contract, they're redacted. So it's a very, very dubious contract.
This lack of transparency raises serious questions about accountability in the NHS's use of Palantir.
Concerns about Palantir's motivations and ethics were also highlighted. Councillor Croft mentioned our profound concerns with Palantir and their ethics, their motivations and their practice,
while Shirley Franklin described the company as a very iffy organisation.
Councillor Gilgunn further elaborated on patient data protection concerns, specifically mentioning the potential for data to be in the hands of an authoritarian government
and citing the example of abortion data.
The committee collectively affirmed their commitment to keeping the NHS public and ensuring stringent safeguards for patient data, advocating for strongest possible safeguards, transparency and independent oversight.
The full details of the contract can be found in the Public reports pack 12th-Mar-2026 19.30 Health Wellbeing and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee.
