Our new investigation reveals the problems with Palantir’s NHS tech - and the unrivalled political access that fuelled the firm’s march into the British state
Thanks for bringing this to the fore. I read an article months ago about how Palantir wasn’t delivering as advertised. This was the verdict of the nurses and doctors. It also mentioned that if the government agrees that it isn’t they will be unable to disengage it’s core so even though we say thanks but no thanks they, Palantir will still have our data. This is a scary situation that needs to be seriously investigated.
If Palantir are allowed to continue, every ounce of trust that may still exist in our politicians will be lost forever. Please carry on digging Peter and show Palantir the door.
Thank you for all you do in reporting on this important issue.
There are many of us in the NHS fighting against Palantirs crap and unethical software. As an NHS analyst told me regarding the FDP: “it’s a crock pile of shit”.
We all need to be focusing on the alternatives, ensuring we use open source coding, data sovernity and that there is a separation between the Government and NHS data. We have alternative in house solutions.
I do not see why Government officials procure contracts for the NHS, we would be far better sorting them ourselves, with a body of staff who actually have moral fibre so will not be swayed by lobbying. The Government should be involved in oversight but otherwise should keep out. It is bizarre that people with no background in healthcare can make senior decisions and push them down through the NHS. We, NHS staff, would never have chosen Palantir as they clearly break several policies and, arguably in several instances, the law.
Thank you for this and the longer article you have linked to. Palantir’s rise is symptomatic of so much that is wrong with British politics and public life, and echoes what happens in areas like defence procurement.
Whilst there may not be open bribery, the easy move from politics and civil service into consultancy and management positions in suppliers creates a dependency amongst those wishing to have a nice post-retirement career/income, and an unwillingness to ask questions or pursue possible better options.
In November 2023, NHS England awarded the FDP contract – worth up to £330 million over seven years – to a consortium led by Palantir, alongside the management consultancies Accenture, PwC, Carnall Farrar and NECS.
A former Irish Minister for Health is now an advisor for Carnall Farrar
Covid was my first interaction with Palantir. They used Foundry as a 1990s PPE ordering and inventory system by passing far more mature products. Then I was a guinea pig for a product registry and price comparison tool which was exactly what we needed to measure outcomes but needed a competition to select the provider.
I'm not shocked the project sponsor has sailed off to pastures new.
Thanks for bringing this to the fore. I read an article months ago about how Palantir wasn’t delivering as advertised. This was the verdict of the nurses and doctors. It also mentioned that if the government agrees that it isn’t they will be unable to disengage it’s core so even though we say thanks but no thanks they, Palantir will still have our data. This is a scary situation that needs to be seriously investigated.
If Palantir are allowed to continue, every ounce of trust that may still exist in our politicians will be lost forever. Please carry on digging Peter and show Palantir the door.
Thank you for all you do in reporting on this important issue.
There are many of us in the NHS fighting against Palantirs crap and unethical software. As an NHS analyst told me regarding the FDP: “it’s a crock pile of shit”.
We all need to be focusing on the alternatives, ensuring we use open source coding, data sovernity and that there is a separation between the Government and NHS data. We have alternative in house solutions.
I do not see why Government officials procure contracts for the NHS, we would be far better sorting them ourselves, with a body of staff who actually have moral fibre so will not be swayed by lobbying. The Government should be involved in oversight but otherwise should keep out. It is bizarre that people with no background in healthcare can make senior decisions and push them down through the NHS. We, NHS staff, would never have chosen Palantir as they clearly break several policies and, arguably in several instances, the law.
Thank you for this and the longer article you have linked to. Palantir’s rise is symptomatic of so much that is wrong with British politics and public life, and echoes what happens in areas like defence procurement.
Whilst there may not be open bribery, the easy move from politics and civil service into consultancy and management positions in suppliers creates a dependency amongst those wishing to have a nice post-retirement career/income, and an unwillingness to ask questions or pursue possible better options.
I used foundry at a tech company for a while. It was truly awful, like a "big data ms access".
A hodge-podge of different technologies bundled together in one big complicated bag of turd with vendor lock to the max.
We were encouraged (=forced) to use it after palantir invested in the company, we then had to pay them for the privilege. Soon after we went bust!
In November 2023, NHS England awarded the FDP contract – worth up to £330 million over seven years – to a consortium led by Palantir, alongside the management consultancies Accenture, PwC, Carnall Farrar and NECS.
A former Irish Minister for Health is now an advisor for Carnall Farrar
https://www.carnallfarrar.com/me/meet-the-team/#
Covid was my first interaction with Palantir. They used Foundry as a 1990s PPE ordering and inventory system by passing far more mature products. Then I was a guinea pig for a product registry and price comparison tool which was exactly what we needed to measure outcomes but needed a competition to select the provider.
I'm not shocked the project sponsor has sailed off to pastures new.