The NHS is set to launch new software in the spring in an attempt to deliver better joined-up care for millions of patients, help tackle waiting lists and reduce hospital discharge delays.

The Federated Data Platform will bring together existing NHS data, making it easier for staff to access key information to provide improved and more timely patient care.

The software will join up key information currently held in separate NHS systems to tackle some of the big challenges the health service faces coming out of the pandemic.

It is hoped that by bringing together real-time data, such as the number of beds in a hospital, the size of elective waiting lists, staff rosters, the availability of medical supplies and social care places, staff can plan and maximise resources such as operating theatre and outpatient clinic time to ensure patients receive more timely care.

A contract to provide the software has been awarded to a group led by Palantir Technologies UK, with support from Accenture, PwC, NECS and Carnall Farrar after a tender process.

In the first contract year, investment is expected to be at least £25.6m and over the contractual period of seven years, there will be up to £330m investment in the Federated Data Platform and associated services.

NHS national director for transformation Dr Vin Diwakar said: “Better use of data is essential for the NHS to tackle waiting times, join up patient care and make the health service sustainable for the future. Patients come to the NHS at some of the most vulnerable points in their lives, and they want to know that our healthcare teams have access to the best possible information when it comes to their treatment and care.

“This new tool provides a safe and secure environment to bring together data, which enables us to develop and deliver more responsive services for patients and will help the health service drive the recovery in elective care.”

Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, said: “Health leaders will welcome the introduction of the Federated Data Platform as an important tool to help organisations across the NHS more rapidly connect and access data, free up vital clinical time and deliver more efficient, faster and safe care for patients.

“For the platform to succeed, it will also be crucial that the public continue to be engaged with, and that any concerns they have on the sharing of their data are addressed meaningfully. Likewise, Government and the wider NHS will need to ensure that there are adequate numbers of staff working in digital and patient data roles.

“We hope the new platform will offer much needed capacity for many Integrated Care Systems and for those systems that have already built their own effective platforms, we welcome both the assurance that they will be able to decide if and when to opt into it, and that they will continue to be supported.”