Hospitals using Palantir’s patient discharge tool have shown no noticeable improvement in performance, per Health Foundation study that could spark calls for independent audit of NHS England. The study, shared with the FT, questions the platform’s value. The analysis contrasts with NHS England’s claim of a 15 per cent fall.

The Federated Data Platform, built for £330mn, links datasets across the service. NHSE says it targets long‑stay patients, but the Health Foundation’s wider metric—beds occupied by any delayed discharge—shows no measurable change. Despite the £330mn investment, stakeholders demand tangible evidence before further rollout.

NHSE acknowledged limitations of observational data and has commissioned a robust independent evaluation by Imperial College London. This evaluation will employ methods controlling for external factors to ensure a rigorous assessment.

Palantir disputes the report, claiming it misrepresents the tool’s purpose. NHS England stresses ongoing engagement with the Health Foundation and commitment to a detailed assessment of the platform’s impact. Both sides agree that a comprehensive audit is essential to justify continued use of the system.