Modernising NHS Systems: The Role of the Federated Data Platform and Local Innovation

Rebuilding NHS Data Infrastructure Through Digital Transformation

Digital transformation in healthcare has become an operational necessity in today’s modern landscape. However, many NHS providers still operate within a patchwork of legacy systems and disconnected digital environments. Decades of incremental system adoption, often at departmental or Trust level, have created a fragmented IT landscape where critical information remains siloed. The absence of a unified data platform and limited integration across local systems make it difficult for clinicians to access a complete, real-time picture of patient care.

As a result, nearly 30% of clinicians’ working hours are spent navigating these systems rather than engaging directly with patients. This fragmentation leads to duplicated testing, incomplete patient histories, delayed diagnoses, and lower productivity, all of which stem from poor interoperability and inconsistent data exchange.

Recognising that this fragmentation cannot be addressed through isolated system upgrades, NHS England has established a clear digital strategy to rebuild data foundations across the health service. At the centre of this approach is the creation of an interoperable, federated infrastructure that connects information across Trusts and care settings while preserving local autonomy.

The NHS’s long-term and medium-term plans both reflect this direction, shifting care closer to communities and embedding digital solutions that support integration at every level. Under this framework, Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) and NHS Trusts are empowered to lead digital transformation locally, ensuring that innovation aligns with the unique needs and priorities of each region.

The Federated Data Platform: A Unified Foundation for NHS Data

The Federated Data Platform (FDP) is a core enabler of NHS digital transformation. Rather than replacing existing systems, it acts as a secure integration layer, connecting operational data held across legacy platforms to create a unified, real-time view of patients, services, and resources.

Built on a federated architecture, the FDP provides each NHS Trust and Integrated Care Board (ICB) with its own secure, self-managed environment, known as an instance. These instances allow organisations to manage and act on their own data while retaining full data controllership. When appropriate, they can also connect with other instances, for example to coordinate patient discharge across different care settings.

At the national level, NHS England operates its own instance to support strategic planning and to consolidate statutory reporting. This ensures that local autonomy over data is preserved, while still enabling a coherent national view where it is required.

The platform is delivered by a consortium led by Palantir Technologies, whose Foundry software provides the technical foundation. Foundry enables integration of siloed systems—such as elective waiting lists, bed occupancy, theatre rosters, and medical supply data—into a single, operationally useful view. As a result, NHS organisations can plan care more effectively, act on real-time data, and reduce delays.

Deployment of the FDP began in 2024, with 91 NHS Trusts currently onboarded and ongoing progress toward the target of 240 organisations by 2027. Early adopters of the platform are already reporting measurable improvements in operational performance and patient flow, including:

• North Cumbria: up to 10% increase in surgical throughput
• Croydon Health Services: 12% improvement in theatre utilisation
• North Tees and Hartlepool: 36% reduction in patients staying longer than 21 days

However, a number of Trusts are still lagging behind on adoption and are not yet capitalising on the benefits that developing localised FDP use cases can offer.

Navigating Change with the Right Partner

With the FDP now entering mass rollout, its adoption across the NHS is no longer a question of if but of how well. The platform represents a fundamental shift in how operational data is accessed and used. Although the national infrastructure is in place, the long-term success of the FDP will ultimately depend on how effectively it is implemented and embedded at local level.

This phase brings a distinct set of practical challenges. Many Trusts and ICBs are already constrained by longstanding legacy systems and limited digital capacity. Introducing the FDP therefore requires careful alignment with existing workflows, robust governance, and the ability to deliver value quickly and visibly. Common concerns include how the FDP will fit alongside existing tools, how rapidly it can demonstrate tangible benefits, and whether frontline staff will engage with it in day-to-day practice.

Early adoption of the FDP has already delivered strong results across a number of NHS Trusts. In Dorset, integrating waiting lists, staffing and leave data into a single planning view enabled the scheduling of approximately 2,500 additional procedures annually. In South London (Croydon), the FDP reduced same-day cancellations by 38%, improved theatre utilisation by 12%, while also freeing up clinical time previously spent on coordination tasks. Meanwhile, in North Cumbria, moving from manual theatre planning to the FDP cut scheduling time significantly and enabled the Trust to perform up to 10% more surgeries. Together, these examples show how targeted, well-integrated use cases can deliver faster care, better use of resources and more efficient operations.

To replicate these benefits more widely, many NHS organisations will require the support of a specialist technology partner. Implementing the FDP is not simply a technical deployment; it demands careful integration, alignment with local workflows, and a clear ability to demonstrate early, measurable value. Whether the priority is improving patient flow, reducing delays or streamlining theatre scheduling, Trusts need focused, practical solutions that make a visible difference on the ground.

FPT: A Strategic Partner for Local FDP Implementation

To support local FDP implementation, FPT combines strong technical capability with deep healthcare experience. As an official Palantir partner, FPT holds more than 200 certificates in configuring, customising, and scaling Palantir solutions in complex environments. This expertise in both platform deployment and workflow integration helps ensure that technology is implemented effectively and used in ways that align with local priorities.

In the UK healthcare sector, FPT has already demonstrated its ability to modernise legacy systems. Partnering with a radiology technology provider, FPT led the transformation of an outdated Radiology Information System (RIS) into a modern, cloud-native platform enhanced with artificial intelligence. The updated system incorporates voice recognition, real-time dashboards, and automation features, and was delivered within ten months. It now supports more than 200,000 users across over 700 clinical sites and has been recognised as the leading RIS in the UK.

Read more about the case study here.

FPT's experience with Palantir technology also extends to other high-complexity sectors. The company has worked closely with Airbus to deliver and scale Skywise, a real-time operational data platform powered by Palantir. FPT contributed to integrating large, distributed data sources, developing workflow tools, and enabling end users across regions. This long-standing partnership, formalised under a Global Strategic IT Agreement in 2025, reflects FPT's ability to deliver Palantir-based solutions at scale.

For NHS organisations preparing to implement the FDP, FPT is well positioned to assist. The company can rapidly deploy combined teams of healthcare and Palantir experts to work directly with local teams. This support includes identifying operational challenges, co-developing use cases, and embedding live solutions into day-to-day workflows. FPT's approach is practical, focused on delivering measurable improvements and supporting sustained adoption. By partnering with FPT, Trusts and ICBs can accelerate implementation, realise early value, and build a strong foundation for long-term impact.

Conclusion

Modernising NHS systems now means moving decisively from fragmented, legacy environments to an interoperable, federated data foundation, with the Federated Data Platform at its core. By securely connecting existing systems into a unified, real-time view of patients, services, and resources, the FDP creates the conditions for faster care and smarter use of capacity; yet, in practice, these gains only become real when the platform is carefully integrated into local workflows, governance, and frontline decision-making. That is where a strategic partner like FPT can help Trusts and ICBs bridge the gap between national vision and local delivery, combining Palantir expertise, healthcare experience, and tangible use cases that show early value. As the rollout accelerates, the real question for NHS leaders is not whether to embrace this new data infrastructure, but how quickly they are prepared to turn it into everyday improvements for staff and patients alike.