Greater Manchester still says no to NHS data platform with Palantir at its heart

"This paper has not been produced yet and work has not started on this paper because it's clear that the public concerns have heightened rather than diminished since the deferral decision has been taken and there does not appear to be any compelling evidence that the value proposition for NHS GM from FDP has materially changed in favour of adoption."

"Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board (ICB), which manages health services for 2.8 million people, deferred a decision on whether to sign up to the FDP last year. It is the only ICB in England to do so."

"NHS England had not addressed the ICB's concerns around risks. The ICB added that Greater Manchester's capability in data analytics was greater than what the FDP currently offered."

"The FDP was created by Palantir under a much-criticized £330 million procurement for a seven-year contract awarded in November 2023. NHS England signed the deal after it awarded £60 million to the vendor without competition during the pandemic. The FDP is designed to improve information flow through various NHS organizations and reduce the backlog in non-urgent 'elective care,' which skyrocketed during the COVID-19 outbreak."

Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board manages health services for 2.8 million people and remains the only ICB in England not to join the NHS Federated Data Platform. The board cited concerns about risks linked to Palantir, the lead supplier, and said evidence for the technology’s benefits remains thin. A decision to defer was followed by further review discussions, but a Freedom of Information response stated that no review paper has been produced and work has not started. The response said public concerns have increased since deferral and there is no compelling evidence that the value proposition has materially changed. The FDP was created by Palantir under a £330 million seven-year contract awarded in November 2023, intended to improve information flow and reduce elective care backlogs.

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