- NHS data chief says Palantir is delivering ‘exceptional results’
- Palantir contractors have accessed the data of 1.5 million NHS employees
- NHS workers concerned over ethical concerns over Palantir NHS contract
UK NHS chief data officer Ming Tang said Palantir is delivering “outstanding results” despite the company’s difficult reputation.
Palantir has developed the Federated Data Platform (FDP) as part of its £330 million contract with the NHS to help the government “reinvent the NHS” through more efficient management of waiting lists, appointment allocation, diagnostics and personalization of treatment.
But NHS staff have raised concerns around the protection of personal data, the misuse of the FDP’s centralized database and the implications of Palantir’s growing involvement in the UK public sector.
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Is Palantir improving NHS services?
In its involvement with the NHS, Palantir has said the FDP has “helped deliver an additional 110,000 operations, a 15.3% reduction in discharge delays and a 6.8% increase” in cancer diagnoses within 28 days of referral.
Tang further attested to the “outstanding results” achieved by Palantir, stating that the NHS is looking to achieve “maximum product penetration” of FDP tools and software across a core group of hospitals over the next 12 months.
An internal memo shared by Tang, seen by the Financial timesalso touched on Palantir’s reputation, stating: “While the media and campaign groups continue to raise questions about our technology provider, the program is focusing on the evidence: the FDP is delivering.” Tang added that his team needs to “maintain our focus” amid growing concerns about Palantir’s involvement in the NHS.
Palantir’s tarnished reputation stems from the use of its ImmigrationOS and Enhanced Leads Identification & Targeting for Enforcement (ELITE) software by US ICE agents in the deportation of immigrants to the US who arrive illegally. Several US citizens have also been subject to arrests in various US cities.
Concerns have also been raised about Palantir’s use of medical data to track and locate suspected illegal immigrants in real time. In the UK, the Reform party has promised to create a British version of ICE if the party gains power in the next election, meaning Palantir’s involvement within the UK public sector could help Reform’s plans for mass deportations.
Why are NHS staff concerned about access to Palantir?
NHS staff have raised further concerns about Palantir’s involvement with the NHS after internal sources revealed the guardian that at least six Palantir contractors had received NHS.net email accounts, which also gives them access to a database of up to 1.5 million NHS employees. The database contains personnel details including role, location, workplace, email address and mobile number.
It is not unusual for contractors to be given access to databases like these, and access to staff data is likely necessary for the effective deployment of the FDP, but staff have taken issue with Palantir being granted access to personal information without their consent, and some refuse to use the FDP altogether.
Other staff have revealed that Palantir staff attended virtual Microsoft Teams meetings using NHS email accounts without revealing who they worked for.
A Palantir spokesperson said: “Our role is to provide software. The way that software is used is completely under the control of the NHS and data can only be processed in accordance with its strict instructions.” The NHS email policy states that access may be granted to “independent sector organizations providing health and social care services nationally”.
An NHS spokesperson said: “All providers, including Palantir, and their staff operate solely under the direction of the NHS, and all access to data remains under the control of the NHS and is governed by strict contractual confidentiality obligations.”
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