## Palantir Granted 'Unlimited Access' to NHS Patient Data as England Moves Toward Mandatory Health Records Consolidation
NHS England has granted Palantir sweeping access to identifiable patient data, according to a leaked internal briefing, as the UK government prepares legislation mandating that GPs and hospitals share patient records in a single unified system. The controversial US data analytics firm will operate under what NHS England described as "unlimited access" to connect health information across the health service—a role that has already drawn sharp scrutiny from medical professionals and privacy advocates.

The data arrangement emerges as part of Palantir's work on the NHS's Federated Data Platform, a project ostensibly designed to improve operational efficiency across England's healthcare infrastructure. NHS England's own briefing acknowledged the sensitivity of the arrangement, noting "considerable public interest and concern about how much access to patient data Palantir and Palantir staff have" to identifiable information. Doctors working within the NHS system have reportedly raised concerns about the scope of commercial access to sensitive health records, which contain details that go far beyond general medical history and can include mental health diagnoses, reproductive health information, and social care data.

The data-sharing controversy coincides with legislation set to be announced in the King's Speech on 13 May, which would legally require GPs and hospitals to consolidate patient records under a Single Patient Record framework. While government officials frame the reform as a necessary step toward more coordinated care, critics warn that combining comprehensive health data in one place—now under a commercial partner with expansive access—raises significant risks around data security, patient consent, and the potential for mission creep beyond stated efficiency objectives. The convergence of mandatory record consolidation and unrestricted commercial access to identifiable patient data is likely to intensify debate over NHS data governance as the legislation progresses through Parliament.
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- **Source**: The BMJ
- **Sector**: The Network
- **Tags**: Palantir, NHS, patient data, data privacy, healthcare IT
- **Credibility**: unverified
- **Published**: 2026-05-12 18:18:18
- **ID**: 82305
- **URL**: https://whisperx.ai/en/intel/82305