A growing number of NHS staff are refusing to work with Palantir's Federated Data Platform, citing ethical concerns about the US tech company's ties to defense work and political affiliations. The £330mn contract awarded in 2023 to create the platform has become increasingly contentious as NHS employees seek alternative assignments rather than engage with the software.

Senior NHS officials report that staff are formally requesting workplace adjustments to avoid using Palantir's platform, comparing the situation to disability accommodations. One analytics veteran with nearly two decades of NHS experience called Palantir "ethically bankrupt" and vowed to continue refusing engagement. Staff members describe feeling "sick" when logging into the system and are deliberately working slowly when pressured to use it.

UK ministers are reportedly considering triggering a break clause in Palantir's contract amid mounting pressure to remove the company from NHS data systems. Health Secretary Wes Streeting acknowledged understanding the ethical concerns, noting Palantir's leadership would be "well off to the right" of even the most conservative UK political positions. An NHS spokesperson maintains that all data access remains under NHS control with strict confidentiality obligations, while Palantir claims its software is improving patient care despite the controversy.