Palantir, the US data analytics firm, engaged in direct communication with a UK health minister to advocate for the integration of its artificial intelligence tools into NHS GP records. The company used WhatsApp messages to argue for the necessity of combining primary and secondary care data, asserting its software was suitable for this purpose. This lobbying push, which took place in February 2026, aimed to broaden the scope of Palantir's involvement with the NHS beyond its current £330 million contract for the Federated Data Platform (FDP), which expressly excludes GP data.
The communications, obtained by the tech equity campaign group Foxglove under the Freedom of Information Act and shared with The Guardian, appear to be between Palantir's UK head, Louis Mosley, and former health minister Zubir Ahmed. The messages span from July 2025 to March 2026. In these exchanges, Palantir urged Ahmed to proactively address potential "political" opposition from medical professionals and vocal critics of the company. Palantir suggested that its FDP was already yielding strong results and would offer even greater benefits with dedicated ministerial support.
Doctors and patient groups, including the British Medical Association, have voiced opposition to incorporating GP data into Palantir's FDP, citing a lack of trust in the company due to its work with entities such as the Israeli military and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement. When the government initially announced the contract with Palantir in 2023, it stated that GP data would not be part of the national platform.
Palantir argued that applying its Foundry software to GP data could lead to benefits such as faster access to GPs, more effective management of frail patients, and improved preventative care, while also claiming that healthcare institutions would maintain local control over their data. However, critics argue that these lobbying efforts highlight Palantir's intent to gather more sensitive personal data from the British public. Donald Campbell, director of advocacy at Foxglove, stated that it was "appalling" to see Palantir pressuring the minister to include GP records, especially given prior government assurances.
The Department of Health and Social Care declined to comment on the correspondence. The ongoing review of Palantir's contract with NHS England, which is set to conclude in March, has led to discussions about the potential for extending the agreement or developing a UK-based alternative for AI in healthcare. Health Secretary Yvette Cooper indicated that the government is exploring the long-term benefits of developing sovereign AI capabilities within the UK.