Palantir lobbied minister over GP records as revealed in messages

Newly uncovered WhatsApp messages have revealed that software firm Palantir lobbied a former health minister to extend its artificial intelligence technology into NHS GP records. The communications show the company pushing to stretch its reach into the health service, raising concerns among doctors that the move could undermine patient trust. The messages were obtained under the Freedom of Information Act by the tech equity campaign group Foxglover and shared with the Guardian.

The correspondence appears to involve Palantir's UK boss, Louis Mosley, and former health minister Zubir Ahmed, spanning several months between July 2025 and March 2026. During this period, the US software company used a direct WhatsApp channel to argue that joining primary and secondary care data is essential and claimed its software platform was ideal for the job. This push occurred despite GP data being expressly excluded from Palantir's existing £330 million contract with NHS England to run its federated data platform, which supporters say has helped reduce waiting and discharge times.

Palantir lobbied a health minister to extend its software into sensitive NHS GP records.

In the messages and an accompanying briefing document, Palantir urged the minister to get ahead of anticipated political opposition from doctors and critics. Groups representing medical professionals and patients, including the British Medical Association, have strongly opposed integrating GP data into the platform, citing a lack of trust in the company due to its other contracts with international military and immigration agencies. When the original deal was announced three years ago, the government explicitly stated that GP records would not be part of the national platform.

Additional disclosures show that Palantir argued the application of its software to primary care could lead to faster access to GPs, better management of frail patients, and more effective preventative care while maintaining local control. Meanwhile, the Department of Health and Social Care declined to comment on the leaked exchanges, and Palantir maintained that it has always believed data sharing can improve the health service while leaving rollout decisions entirely up to the government.

Why it matters

The lobbying efforts highlight ongoing tensions surrounding the integration of private technology companies into public health infrastructure. If implemented, extending software reach into primary care could alter how sensitive patient data is handled across the NHS and reignite debates over transparency and public trust in digital health initiatives.