Palantir lobbied a health minister to consider extending its AI technology into GP records, according to WhatsApp messages that show the firm pressing Zubir Ahmed MP. Doctors fear the move could stretch the US company’s reach into the NHS in a way that undermines trust with patients.
Palantir used WhatsApp to press its case
The company, co-founded by Trump-supporting billionaire Peter Thiel, used a direct WhatsApp channel to argue that joining up primary and secondary care data was “unarguable”. It also said its software was “ideal” for the job, and the push came in February this year.
GP data excluded from existing NHS contract
GP data was expressly ruled out of the scope of Palantir’s existing £330m contract with NHS England to run its federated data platform (FDP). The company says the platform has helped cut surgery waiting times and discharge delays.
