The government says the NHS data platform is a success. Freedom of Information requests tell a different story.

In the final episode of The Shadow Contract, we examine the rollout of the Federated Data Platform and the growing gap between the official narrative and what is happening inside the NHS.

Freedom of Information requests reveal that far fewer hospital trusts are actively using the system than government figures suggest. Some organisations say the platform offers little they don’t already have. Others warn of hidden costs and unanswered questions about long-term risks.

We also examine a deeper concern: vendor lock-in. Once critical health infrastructure becomes dependent on a single technology provider, switching away can become technically and financially difficult.

With Palantir’s contract up for renewal in 2027, the decisions made over the next few years could shape the future of NHS data for decades.

But campaigners, clinicians and patients across the country are pushing back.

Because the story of the NHS’s data future is not yet finished.

The Shadow Contract is produced by the Good Law Project. Learn more about Good Law Project’s work and see the full transcript for this episode at goodlawproject.org/podcast

Find out if your NHS trust is using the Federated Data Platform: https://notopalantir.goodlawproject.org/email-to-target/stop-palantir-in-the-nhs/ 

Check out Just Treatment here: https://justtreatment.org/ and Corporate Watch here: https://corporatewatch.org/