The safety and security of patient data must remain at the front and centre of any NHS system. Public confidence depends on strong safeguards, clear rules, and proper oversight.
When awarding the Federated Data Platform (FDP) contract to Palantir in 2023, the last Government was clear that only authorised users should be granted access to data for approved purposes, such as NHS staff, those supporting them like administrators or bed managers, as well as social care staff supporting patients to move from hospital care.
Ministers at the time also said the supplier should not hold or use NHS data for its own purposes, other than as directed by the NHS. The current Government has repeated those assurances and said that personal data in the system cannot be accessed by Palantir staff outside the UK, and must remain subject to UK data protection law.
These safeguards are important, but they must be tested in practice and clearly explained to the public.