Analysis
NHS England counts 29 trusts as benefiting from Palantir's platform that say they do not use it
A Guardian investigation says 29 NHS trusts listed as benefiting from Palantir's data platform report not using it. NHS England has replied.
As of November 3, 2026, a Guardian investigation, read through TNW, says NHS England lists 29 hospital trusts as realising benefits from Palantir's £330 million Federated Data Platform (FDP) although, in replies to freedom of information requests, they say it is not live or unused. NHS England and Palantir have responded. The press does not agree on calling the platform AI.
The essentials
- The reported gap: 29 listed trusts say the system is not live or that they use none of its applications.
- NHS England: nearly 140 trusts report benefits; a trust is live once data-transmission systems are in place.
- Palantir: 117,000 additional operations, no method given.
- Open: which 29 trusts, how many replies, the effect on care.
What does the investigation show exactly?
Medact, a medical charity campaigning to remove Palantir from the NHS, filed more than 100 freedom of information requests and shared the replies with the Guardian. Per the report, 29 trusts answered that the FDP is not in service or that they use none of its applications, yet NHS England lists them as realising benefits. Medact is an interested party; no count of replies or period is given. NHS England's figures, as reported: 142 trusts live, 137 reporting benefits. The FDP began rolling out in April 2024 to link records, speed discharge and improve surgical scheduling.
Source: NHS England (reported figures), Medact freedom of information replies via the Guardian (November 2, 2026).
What do NHS England and Palantir answer?
NHS England says nearly 140 trusts reported benefits, its list includes trusts using back-office data tools, and a trust is live once data-transmission systems are in place. Its site says its before-and-after comparisons allow no cause-and-effect conclusions. Palantir says users recorded 117,000 additional operations; no method given. The Office for Statistics Regulation will examine the "realising benefits" claim; no timetable or scope is stated.
Source: Guardian via TNW (November 2, 2026).
What do the named trusts say?
Epsom and St Helier does not use the FDP for now. Mersey Care says it is not yet live. Nottingham University Hospitals says no date is agreed. University Hospitals of North Midlands says it is not live and it does not intend to deploy it. Torbay and South Devon says it is not used operationally, yet NHS England counts it live.
Chi Onwurah, chair of the Commons science and technology committee, urges the government to use the 2027 exit clause and tender for a British supplier; the Commons health committee also wants the deal ended, per TNW. Palantir UK's Louis Mosley says that would put politics before patients.
Is the platform an AI tool?
Sources differ. Novara Media, an openly partisan outlet, calls it AI-powered; the Guardian, via TNW, describes a data platform. Novara also cites a July 2026 Health Foundation analysis finding no significant difference in discharge delays from Palantir's discharge tool, contrary to NHS England's claims, per Novara. We say data platform and do not decide.
What is not established?
Which 29 trusts. How many replies. What live and realising benefits exactly mean. Whether the 29 are among the 137. The effect on care. The method behind 117,000. The regulator's finding. Whether it is AI.
Comparison table
| Point | What sources say as of Nov 3, 2026 | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Trusts live | 142 live, 137 reporting benefits (NHS England, reported) | Guardian via TNW |
| Contested group | 29 listed trusts say they do not use it or it is not live | Medact replies via the Guardian |
| NHS England | Live means data-transmission systems in place; list includes back-office tools | Guardian via TNW |
| Palantir | 117,000 additional operations, method unstated | Guardian via TNW |
| Review | Office for Statistics Regulation to examine the claim | Guardian via TNW |
| "AI" label | Used by Novara Media, not by the Guardian via TNW | Novara Media, TNW |
Frequently asked questions
Does NHS England really count 29 trusts that do not use the platform?
Per Medact's replies relayed by the Guardian, yes. NHS England says live means data-transmission systems are in place.
Will the contract be cancelled?
No. MPs ask for the 2027 exit clause to be used; nothing is decided.
Is the platform AI?
Sources differ and it is not established.
Method and limits
We read pages through automatic summaries; the Guardian page was not opened (access refused), so all comes via TNW. Medact, Corporate Watch and Computing returned 403. No reply was checked; NHS England's figures are reported.
Sources
- TNW: report relaying the Guardian investigation (November 2, 2026) (verified 2026-11-03)
- Guardian, Robert Booth (November 2, 2026), not opened, cited via TNW (verified 2026-11-03)
- Novara Media, Joshua Carroll (November 2, 2026), partisan outlet (verified 2026-11-03)
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