The National Health Service (NHS) is facing potential legal action over its plan to procure a £480 million federated data platform, which will include all health information held by the NHS. The platform will be privately run, with Denver-based company Palantir currently the frontrunner for the project. Palantir, which makes surveillance software used by the FBI and CIA, has been the subject of scrutiny after an investigation by OpenDemocracy revealed that hundreds of NHS hospitals have been ordered to share patients’ confidential medical records with the company.
Palantir has denied that it collects or monetises data, stating that it simply provides tools to help customers organise and understand their own information. However, lawyers acting on behalf of three groups, including The Doctors’ Association, have questioned whether the plans could lead to tech giants creating fitness apps to sell back to the NHS for “the public good.” The groups, supported by tech justice campaigners Foxglove, are demanding that the government reveal what data will be shared.
Dr David Nicholl, consultant neurologist and representative of The Doctors’ Association UK, has expressed concerns over the project. He stated that the history of the NHS is littered with costly IT disasters and that during the worst workforce crisis the NHS has ever faced, the country cannot afford another. He added that there is far too much unknown about the NHS Federated Data Platform for doctors to have confidence that it will help patients or work in the ways being promised.
The concerns over the platform have highlighted the need for transparency and clear communication from the NHS and the government. The potential for tech giants to exploit patient data for profit is a major concern, particularly in the context of a public healthcare system. The NHS has previously faced criticism over data breaches and the handling of patient data, and it is crucial that steps are taken to ensure that patient privacy is protected.
The demand for a judicial review of the plans is a necessary step in ensuring that the NHS and the government are held accountable for their actions. The review will provide an opportunity to scrutinise the plans and assess their potential impact on patients and the healthcare system as a whole. The review may also shed light on the motivations behind the project and the role of private companies in the NHS.
The NHS Federated Data Platform is a contentious issue that raises important questions about patient privacy, transparency and accountability. While the potential benefits of the platform cannot be ignored, it is crucial that steps are taken to ensure that patient data is protected and that the platform operates in the best interests of patients and the healthcare system. The call for a judicial review is an important step in this process, and it is essential that the NHS and the government engage with the concerns of doctors and patients to ensure that the project proceeds in a responsible and ethical manner.
