Patients Could Opt Out of Care Over NHS Data Platform Fears, Councillors Warned

Medical professionals have warned councillors that patients may opt out of data sharing and care due to ethical and security concerns surrounding the NHS's £330 million contract with US technology firm Palantir.

Patients could ‘lose trust and opt out of care’ over concerns about the use of US technology firm Palantir’s data platform in the NHS, councillors have been warned.

A special health scrutiny meeting heard about patient trust and data security concerns over the NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board’s (ICB) use of US technology firm Palantir’s data platform.

Palantir, the US data analytics company co-founded by billionaire Peter Thiel, was awarded a £330 million contract to deliver the NHS Federated Data Platform in 2023. MPs and campaigners have urged the Government to use a break clause to end the contract next February.

Speaking at a meeting on Friday, Naomi Wigley, a nurse practitioner at York Hospital, urged North Yorkshire councillors to support calls for a pause in further integration of the platform until the Government contract review is completed.

She said:

If patients lose trust, they opt out. They opt out of data sharing, they opt out of care, which harms research, service planning and the safety of those individuals.

Addressing councillors on NYC’s scrutiny of health committee, Ms Wigley said there were “ethical and moral concerns” surrounding Palantir and warned that some patients could lose confidence in how their data is handled.

Ms Wigley also argued there were alternatives available and called on the committee to recommend the Humber and North Yorkshire ICB pause further integration, prepare a contingency plan for alternative systems and support the use of the contractual break clause.

She said:

Migrants and refugees and other vulnerable residents will hesitate or may hesitate to seek care if they believe their records are handled by such a firm.

The British Medical Association has told doctors to limit their engagement with the platform, and Amnesty International has raised similar concerns. If patients lose trust, they opt out.

In a written response read to the committee, the ICB stressed that its local FDP system does not currently contain GP practice data or identifiable patient-level primary care information.

The board said there were “currently no local data flows from GP systems into the platform” and that any future proposal involving identifiable patient data would be subject to legal, information governance, and data protection assessments.

The ICB acknowledged there were differing views on the programme, but said it recognised the importance of public confidence and maintaining trust in how NHS data is used.

Cllr Peter Lacey said he supported the wider use of linked data to improve healthcare and research but argued public confidence would be critical to the success of any system.

He said:

I think there’s almost a gateway process that if we haven’t got the trust of patients and the public, then whatever technical solution seems right and meaningful, the risk of patients not complying or not giving permission could significantly undermine what is otherwise a very sound technical solution.

Other members highlighted the practical benefits of sharing information across health services.

Meanwhile, councillors also discussed the risks posed by increasingly sophisticated technology and artificial intelligence.

Committee chair Cllr Andrew Lee said concerns about patient confidentiality and data security were legitimate, but noted the broader challenge extended beyond any single provider.

He said:

Whether it’s Palantir or whether it’s another company, or whether it’s something that the ICBs are using that isn’t Palantir, there’s obviously a risk as things become more connected.

He added that safeguarding personal data was “paramount” and said the committee would continue to monitor developments and seek further information from health bodies.

No formal recommendations were made, but councillors said they would seek further information from health leaders.