Greater Manchester Rejects Palantir’s NHS Data Platform
Greater Manchester health board members discuss the Palantir contract, 2024.
Greater Manchester Rejects Palantir’s NHS Data Platform
A £400 million contract hangs in the balance as one English health board opts for its own system
Matt Hennessey, chief data and analytics officer for NHS Greater Manchester, faced pressure to adopt a controversial US‑built data platform while his board defended a home‑grown system in early 2024.
The UK government signed a deal worth more than $400 million in 2023 to give the NHS a single data pool that could cut wait times, shorten hospital stays, and free up operating theatres.
Greater Manchester has refused to join.
“If we were to fully adopt the FDP … it would be a retrograde step,” Hennessey told WIRED. “Even a technically strong platform will struggle to realize value if clinicians, data controllers, patients or the public do not trust it.”
Sources & Further Reading
Why the Contract Matters
The contract runs until 2031, but the government has six months to decide whether to end it early, possibly in February 2025. A decision now could save taxpayers billions and set a precedent for how the NHS sources technology.
Local Trust vs. Centralised Data
Greater Manchester’s own platform has been built over a decade, earning trust from clinicians and patients alike. Its leaders argue that trust is as vital as technical capability when handling sensitive health records.
The potential fallout of joining the national platform extends beyond cost. Analysts warn that a single‑point data repository could become a target for cyber‑attacks, putting millions of patient records at risk. By maintaining a regional system, Greater Manchester can enforce stricter access controls and tailor security protocols to local needs, reducing exposure to large‑scale breaches.
Moreover, the decision underscores a broader political tension between UK health authorities and US tech firms. While the central contract promises uniformity, it also raises questions about data sovereignty and long‑term dependence on foreign vendors. Greater Manchester’s stance may encourage other regions to reassess their own data strategies, potentially reshaping the NHS’s digital future.
What Happens Next
- on or before February 28, 2025 — Government reviews the Palantir contract and may issue an early termination notice.
- on or before June 30, 2025 — Greater Manchester continues to refine its home‑grown system while other regions watch closely.
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