NHS analysts call for urgent 'reset' of FDP rollout amid warnings of premature system closures

The platform is not yet fit for purpose, they argue

A flagship NHS technology programme is facing criticism from the service's own data experts, who warn that patient safety is being put at risk by a national push to adopt the new Federated Data Platform (FDP) at the expense of existing systems.

In a letter to NHS England's Chief Data and Analytics Officer Ming Tang, the Chief Data and Analytical Officers Network (CDAON) has called for an urgent "reset" of the current implementation strategy.

The letter, seen by Health Service Journal (HSJ), claims that some NHS organisations are being instructed to dismantle existing data infrastructure before the new platform is ready to replace it, jeopardising the safe delivery of care.

"Anecdotally, we are aware of systems being directed to close down existing systems because the functionality is planned within the FDP," the letter, signed by CDAON chair Marc Farr, states.

"However, we are not convinced that the functionality is imminent and therefore that a risk to patient safety exists - we can cite specific examples."

The £330 million FDP was awarded to US tech firm Palantir in 2023 under a seven-year contract. According to the NHS, this platform will link trusts and regional systems, facilitating clinicians' access to patient data to improve healthcare delivery.

FDP was initially presented as an optional tool for NHS organisations. However, under direction from ministers, NHS England (NHSE) has shifted toward an "FDP-first" mandate, prompting alarm among senior digital leaders across the health service.

CDAON, which represents analysts from across NHS trusts and Integrated Care Boards (ICBs), claims the platform is not yet fit for purpose, particularly in supporting the government's broader ambitions to shift more care from hospitals into the community.

"We are not convinced that FDP is the vehicle to deliver this shift," Farr writes, citing "insurmountable" issues such as governance of GP data and an overemphasis on software procurement over workforce development.

The letter also criticises the quality of training provided to frontline analysts, describing it as "falling short" of initial promises.

Training has reportedly consisted only of pre-recorded videos and brief technical sessions, failing to equip analysts with the necessary skills to support clinical and operational staff effectively.

"The investment thus far has been in a software platform, not in the analysts that will need to learn it, share within it, [and] liaise with clinical and operational staff," Farr said.

NHSE reports that 45 trusts are currently using FDP products and "reporting benefits," while over 100 trusts and nearly all ICBs have signed agreements to use the platform.

However, CDAON maintains that actual utilisation is "much lower," with many users expressing concern over the platform's readiness and long-term viability.

This latest escalation follows a previous CDAON letter last month warning of "programme drift" and calling for clearer guidance on partial adoption options.

While NHSE has acknowledged these concerns and said it is "exploring the feasibility" of hybrid models, the new letter urges NHSE to provide concrete timelines for these plans.

Responding to the concerns, an NHSE spokesperson defended the platform, stating: "The NHS Federated Data Platform (FDP) is a central pillar of our plans and it is already delivering for the NHS, helping join up patient care, increase hospital productivity and ensure thousands of additional patients can be treated each month, with 41 ICBs and 108 trusts signed up so far."

"As we continue our rollout of the FDP, we are committed to continuing to listen to our stakeholders and frontline staff."

In March the government announced that NHSE, the arms-length administrative body that has managed the heath service in England since 2012, will be abandoned, with its duties returned to the Department of Health and Social Care.