Labour Members Call for £330m Palantir NHS Contract to Be Cancelled Amid Patient Data Concerns

Labour Party members, healthcare professionals and MPs are increasing pressure on the government to cancel a £330 million NHS technology contract with US company Palantir, amid concerns over patient data, public trust and the company’s involvement in military and surveillance operations.

The contract, awarded in 2023, supports the NHS Federated Data Platform, which brings together information from across health services to help hospitals manage waiting lists, improve patient care and make more effective use of resources.

An emergency motion submitted ahead of Labour’s September conference called for the government to exercise a contract break clause in February 2027. The proposal was backed by the Socialist Health Association and several constituency Labour parties, with campaigners questioning whether Palantir is an appropriate organisation to handle sensitive NHS information.

Opposition to the agreement has extended beyond Labour members. Both the House of Commons Health and Social Care Committee and the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee have called for the government to consider ending the contract and exploring alternative providers. The British Medical Association and Unison have also raised objections.

Critics have highlighted Palantir’s work with US immigration enforcement agencies and the Israeli military, alongside concerns about transparency, data protection and the potential dependence of the NHS on a single technology supplier. However, Palantir has defended its involvement, stating that its software is helping NHS trusts deliver additional operations, reduce hospital discharge delays and improve cancer diagnosis times. The company maintains that NHS organisations retain control over how their information is used and that patient data remains in the UK.

The Department of Health and Social Care has also defended the benefits of the platform, while confirming that the contract will be reviewed ahead of the 2027 break clause.

The dispute raises wider questions about the role of private technology companies within the NHS and how patient information should be managed as healthcare becomes increasingly dependent on digital systems.

With a decision on the contract approaching, the government faces pressure to demonstrate that improvements in NHS efficiency can be delivered without compromising public confidence in the security and ethical management of sensitive health information.

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