‘Mistrust’ of Palantir may affect NHS research, says health minister

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Published: 2026-09-07T15:45:25.514Z • Permanent link

James Frith, the UK's health minister, has expressed concerns that mistrust of Palantir may affect NHS research, as new figures show a rise in opt-outs. The company has been working with the National Health Service in the UK since 2019, providing data analytics services to support the development of new treatments and services. However, the latest data suggests that nearly 50,000 patients have opted out of the NHS's data-sharing arrangements with Palantir, citing concerns over data protection and privacy.

Palantir's work with the NHS is part of a larger effort to harness the power of data analytics to improve healthcare outcomes. The company's technology has been used to analyze patient data, identify trends, and develop predictive models that can help healthcare professionals make more informed decisions. However, the rise in opt-outs has raised concerns among policymakers and healthcare experts, who fear that the public's mistrust of data-sharing arrangements may hinder the NHS's ability to access and analyze data in a way that can drive meaningful improvements in patient care.

The UK government has been under pressure to address concerns over data protection and privacy, particularly in the context of the NHS. The government has introduced new regulations aimed at strengthening data protection and ensuring that patients have control over their personal data. However, the rise in opt-outs suggests that more needs to be done to address public concerns and build trust in the NHS's data-sharing arrangements.

The rise in opt-outs of patients from Palantir's data-sharing arrangements with the NHS has significant implications for the development of new treatments and services. The NHS relies heavily on data analytics to drive innovation and improve patient outcomes, and the loss of access to patient data could hinder this effort. Furthermore, the NHS is under pressure to meet targets and improve patient outcomes, and the loss of access to patient data could compromise its ability to do so.

The NHS's data-sharing arrangements with Palantir are also a key component of the UK government's broader strategy to harness the power of data analytics to improve healthcare outcomes. The government has invested heavily in the development of new data analytics technologies, and the NHS is a key partner in this effort. However, the rise in opt-outs suggests that more needs to be done to build trust and ensure that patients are comfortable with the use of their data in this way.

The rise in opt-outs of patients from Palantir's data-sharing arrangements with the NHS is part of a broader trend in the use of data analytics in healthcare. The use of data analytics to drive innovation and improve patient outcomes has become increasingly widespread, and the NHS is just one example of a healthcare system that is leveraging this technology to drive improvement. However, the NHS is also facing significant challenges in terms of data quality, data governance, and data security, which could impact the effectiveness of data analytics in driving innovation and improving patient outcomes.