Inside FDP - part 5: Addressing the objections | Computer Weekly

The Federated Data Platform is positioned as the delivery mechanism for Frontline-First principles and for addressing interconnected NHS data problems. Earlier work defined frontline dimensions, structural differences through an ontology with object types and actions, and a shared data model with consistent products enabling national scale. A 150-person team built FDP, and a supplier has been selected despite strong controversy around Palantir. Delivery risk is driven by uncertainty among trust chief executives about system functionality and political support, and by technology companies hesitating to invest in Solution Exchange products due to concerns about contractual break clauses reported in the press. Despite this, NHS teams continue working to make FDP work.

"The case for delivering this is strong, and the platform to deliver it exists. The supplier has been chosen - despite the strong opinions that supplier, Palantir, arouses - and there is nothing practical that can be done to change that unless the NHS is forced to go backwards and then stand still until another supplier emerges, perhaps in five years, perhaps in 10, perhaps never."

"While our heroic NHS teams press on with making the Federated Data Platform (FDP) work for them, they are doing so against a relentless backdrop of controversy that puts delivery at risk, and not because the architecture is wrong."

"Trust chief executives who could be leading adoption are hesitant, uncertain about what the system actually does, never mind whether the political environment will support them. I have spoken to senior NHS staff in Trusts who are asking whether they should invest locally, whether they should push their staff on this, whether they should get involved at all."

"Technology companies who could be building products for the Solution Exchange are holding back - at a recent supplier event I heard companies say they had read about a contractual break clause in the press and could not justify the investment if the programme might be"

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