{"text":[[{"start":9.59,"text":"A growing number of NHS staff are refusing to work on Palantir’s health data platform over ethical concerns about the controversial US tech company."}],[{"start":21.68,"text":"The technology company was awarded a £330mn contract in 2023 to create the Federated Data Platform (FDP), which collates NHS operational data such as waiting lists, staffing, patient information and operating theatre schedules."}],[{"start":41.01,"text":"Palantir’s NHS role has become increasingly contentious owing to its work in the US defence sector and co-founder and chief executive Alex Karp’s outspoken backing for Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown. "}],[{"start":56.239999999999995,"text":"“People are saying, ‘I refuse to work on this software. You have to find something else for me to do’,” said one senior NHS official who manages data analysts. “They’re calling it a workplace adjustment. It would be like, you know, if you were disabled and needed a different desk, they’re literally treating it like that.” "}],[{"start":77.78999999999999,"text":"They added: “It’s a significant number of people but there is also a silent majority that feel uncomfortable but wouldn’t want to put their head above a parapet.”"}],[{"start":87.69,"text":"Another senior health official, who has worked in analytics for the NHS for almost two decades, said they would not use the FDP as it was run by an “ethically bankrupt” organisation. "}],[{"start":101.22,"text":"“I will continue to refuse to engage with any work involving this company,” they said. “I know that there are staff who are already working as slowly as they can when pressured to work with Palantir.”"}],[{"start":116.66,"text":"One health data official said their team was “not interested in using [the FDP] as it doesn’t do anything new for us” and “their method is to just not use it”."}],[{"start":128.91,"text":"“It’s a mix of not needing to because other methods are better, and ethics. It makes me feel sick every time I log into the thing and I know I’m not alone in that. Colleagues are avoiding the news because it makes them feel terrible.” "}],[{"start":144.9,"text":"A more junior member of NHS staff said: “Last year, I contacted my team lead to officially refuse to work with the FDP and I was told that I would be found projects outside of the FDP wherever possible.”"}],[{"start":160.73000000000002,"text":"A total of 123 hospital trusts out of 205 in England are using the FDP, according to the latest NHS data, with 80 “reporting benefits” at the end of February. Meanwhile, another 45 hospital trusts have “signed up” to the platform. "}],[{"start":180.17000000000002,"text":"According to the Treasury’s National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority, the FDP project has the highest available “green rating” for successful delivery on time and on budget."}],[{"start":194.07000000000002,"text":"MPs, NHS staff and medical trade unions have also voiced concerns about Palantir’s suitability for managing data in national health systems."}],[{"start":205.8,"text":"The FT reported earlier this week that UK ministers have sought advice on triggering a break clause in Palantir’s contract as they come under mounting pressure to eject the company from NHS England data systems. "}],[{"start":219.93,"text":"Palantir’s UK chief Louis Mosley told The Times this week: “Having a review clause in a contract is good and normal practice. However, what some ideologically motivated campaigners are suggesting should happen would harm patient care and prevent some of the biggest challenges facing the NHS from being tackled.” "}],[{"start":240.33,"text":"A briefing from officials for health secretary Wes Streeting ahead of a meeting with Mosley in June 2025, obtained through a Freedom of Information request by the digital rights organisation Foxglove, noted: “The public perception of the FDP during the procurement, and then in delivery, has been affected by the profile of Palantir. "}],[{"start":264.41,"text":"“We do not know the extent to which this is impacting on delivery. It is, however, likely to make it harder to go further with the FDP, and to encourage the inclusion of GP data locally.” "}],[{"start":278.44,"text":"The briefing added: “It may be useful to consider ways in which we can mitigate this.”"}],[{"start":284.87,"text":"During an appearance on the Guardian Politics Weekly podcast last week, Streeting was asked if he could understand why there were concerns about the ethics of the Palantir contract, to which he replied: “Yes, for a few reasons.” "}],[{"start":301.56,"text":"“Firstly, when you look at some of the things that Palantir’s leaders have said in the States, when you look at their political views and their outlook.”"}],[{"start":311.25,"text":"When asked about co-founder Peter Thiel’s support for Trump, Streeting said: “If you were to put him and some of those Palantir bosses on the political spectrum in the UK, they would be well off to the right of even Kemi Badenoch’s Conservative Party, which is saying something at the moment. And so there’s a question people have about values.”"}],[{"start":332.98,"text":"An NHS spokesperson said: “All suppliers, including Palantir, and their staff operate only under NHS instruction, with all data access remaining under NHS control and governed by strict contractual confidentiality obligations.”"}],[{"start":352.52000000000004,"text":"A Palantir spokesperson said: “We are happy to discuss any concerns from NHS staff, and there is a lot of false information circulating about the company and how our software works. "}],[{"start":368.06000000000006,"text":"“It is also important to understand that the evidence of the past two years of delivery is that our software is helping improve patient care.”"}],[{"start":null,"text":"