NHS Federated Data Platform

The NHS Federated Data Platform (NHS FDP) is a national programme led by NHS England to securely bring together operational data stored in digital systems used by NHS organisations.

It aims to enhance patient care and increase efficiency by securely connecting data, breaking down silos and providing insights to assist in decision-making, reduce costs and improve patient outcomes.

The ‘NHS England Medium Term Planning Framework – Delivering Change Together 2026/27 to 2028/29’ requires all healthcare providers in acute, community and mental health sectors – including Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust – and Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) to use the NHS FDP. Each provider will have their own instance of the NHS FDP which they control from a data perspective, connecting and sharing data in accordance with data protection laws and data sharing agreements. 

OPTICA

At CUH we are working with our regional healthcare partners to use OPTICA (Optimised Patient Tracking & Intelligent Choices Application), a product in the FDP, to support complex patient discharges. This will help to deliver the best care to our patients by:

reducing average length of stay and minimise avoidable delayed discharges
enabling health and social care teams in our region to collaborate about each patient’s discharge arrangements
highlighting areas of delay and offer practical insights by thoroughly monitoring patient progress.

OPTICA is a secure cloud application, built by NECS (a care system support organisation) in collaboration with NHS trusts and local authorities, which tracks all admitted patients and the tasks relating to their discharge in real-time through their hospital journey.

This connection aims to enhance coordination between hospital and community care teams in our area, helping our patients to transition from hospital to community care faster and more safely.

Find out more

You can find out more about the NHS FDP on the NHS England website, including privacy information, FAQs and case studies: NHS England » NHS Federated Data Platform (opens in a new tab)

The supplier for the NHS FDP was procured by NHS England through an independent and transparent procurement process in line with public contract regulation and legislation, with the contract awarded in November 2023. You can find out more here: NHS England » Contract explainer (opens in a new tab)

Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust was not involved in the procurement process for the NHS FDP supplier.

Frequently asked questions

Which governance bodies approved the implementation of OPTICA locally?

The Integrated Care Board were asked to approve the adoption and implementation of OPTICA at their Board Meeting held on the 5th September 2024. Local deployment was monitored through the Trust’s dedicated project board, which reports into the Trust’s Digital Board.

Before implementation, the Trust completed both a Patient Safety Case, which was approved by our Chief Clinical Information Officer, and a Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA). The DPIA was reviewed and approved by the Trust’s Information Asset Owner and Data Protection Officer.

The supplier for the NHS Federated Data Platform (FDP), Palantir, was appointed by NHS England through a national procurement process conducted in accordance with public contract regulations, with the contract awarded in November 2023.

As OPTICA is part of a nationally procured and funded platform, the Trust was not required to develop a separate local business case or secure local funding approval. Instead, local governance focused on ensuring appropriate safeguards were in place around data protection, clinical safety and operational readiness before go-live.

What alternative approaches were considered before OPTICA was adopted and why was it considered the preferred option?

The NHS Federated Data Platform is mandated for all acute, community and mental health providers under NHS England’s Medium-Term Planning Framework 2026/27–2028/29. As OPTICA is provided through that platform at no cost to individual trusts, we did not undertake a formal appraisal of alternative discharge management tools.

Given the significant financial pressures facing the NHS, the Trust did not consider it appropriate to pursue a separate locally funded solution when a nationally funded and mandated option was available and had already demonstrated benefits at other NHS organisations.

Before implementation, we assessed OPTICA’s ability to integrate with our existing systems, particularly our electronic patient record system, Epic. Any interoperability issues identified during this process were escalated to the NHS England FDP team and addressed before the system went live.

Did concerns raised by patients, staff and members of the public influence local decision-making?

Concerns raised by patients, staff and members of the public were discussed at the Trust’s Management Executive meeting, whose membership includes CUH’s executive directors and senior divisional leaders.

As a result of this feedback, we strengthened the information available to patients ahead of implementation and ensured that all required assessments and approvals had been completed in accordance with our governance processes.

After considering the concerns raised alongside the anticipated benefits for patients, including improved discharge coordination and safer transitions of care, and taking account of NHS England’s expectation that trusts adopt the FDP, the Trust’s Management Executive team decided to proceed with implementation.

We will continue to record and raise any concerns received locally with NHS England, which commissions and oversees the platform nationally.

What mechanisms exist for ongoing review of OPTICA, including the circumstances in which the Trust would reconsider its use?

The Trust initially monitored the implementation, impact and benefits of OPTICA through the dedicated programme board, which reports into our established governance structures.

The ongoing oversight of the delivery of OPTICA is monitored through The Home First Programme Delivery Board. This Board brings together partners from across the region to oversee delivery, manage risks and ensure benefits are realised. Detailed operational and mobilisation issues are discussed at the Home First Operational Group, which reports to the Board, and this is similarly representative of key stakeholder organisations.

The Trust will continue to follow NHS England’s planning framework and guidance relating to the NHS Federated Data Platform. Should national requirements or guidance change, we will review our use of OPTICA.

Does CUH believe its current approach is justified in light of concerns raised by clinicians, NHS analysts, campaign groups, professional bodies and Parliament?

CUH recognises the scrutiny the FDP has attracted, and that concerns raised locally largely mirror national ones - principally relating to the supplier, Palantir, and questions about the governance of NHS data.

Having reviewed the Trust’s DPIA, the access controls in place, the fact that CUH was not involved in the FDP’s procurement and bears no cost for its use, and the tangible benefit to patients from improved discharge coordination, the Trust considers CUH’s governance of its local use to be proportionate.

While OPTICA continues to help patients transition from hospital to community care faster and more safely by supporting complex patient discharges, we will continue to use it unless directed otherwise by our regulators.