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Introduction Data fragmentation across the UK’s health and care ecosystem—including hospitals, laboratories, clinical trials, research institutions, charities, and pharmaceutical organisations—limits collaboration, interoperability, and AI readiness. Disconnected systems, inconsistent standards, and siloed governance hinder the ability to securely exchange and reuse data. This project introduces a Unified Health Data Platform that combines data mesh and data fabric principles with a metadata-driven framework and embedded governance and security by design.Materials and Methods The platform supports federated domain ownership (data mesh) and seamless system integration (data fabric). Metadata management, lineage tracking, data quality twin, and role-based access controls are integrated across the data lifecycle. A semantic layer and shared ontology enable consistent classification and contextualisation of data products. A secure data exchange marketplace governs internal, collaborative, and commercial access, underpinned by machine-readable data passports and enforceable data contracts. Large Language Models (LLMs) automate semantic enrichment, producing structured, tagged data products ready for publication and reuse.Results The proof-of-concept integrated datasets from hospitals, clinical trials, and charities. Data products were enriched with metadata, quality indicators, lineage visualisation, and contractual policies. Users accessed a dynamic interface for provenance review, usage validation, and feedback. The marketplace enabled trusted, AI-ready data discovery and usage tracking.Conclusion The Unified Health Data Platform delivers a scalable, secure, and intelligent foundation for health data collaboration. With governance and security embedded by design, it enables ethical data sharing, AI innovation, and long-term digital transformation across the UK health and care ecosystem.