The Health Data Research Service (HDRS) in the UK is supported by a £600m investment from the Government and Wellcome. The aim is to create a single secure gateway to health and care data for research while maintaining data protection and public trust. The HDRS will provide access to linked primary care, hospital, regulatory and mortality data at the national level. It will provide secure environments for analyzing de-identified data without exporting it. The first services will be launched by the end of 2026 with a gradual expansion of capabilities. HDRS will support scientific discoveries, clinical trials, artificial intelligence and economic growth. Fragmented health data needs to be transformed into a coherent system with regional, national and international examples. Data management and expectations for researchers, clinicians and citizens are not yet fully defined.