The NHS is consolidating health data access into a smaller number of Secure Data Environments (SDEs). This strategic direction is sound. Reducing data proliferation strengthens cybersecurity, improves governance consistency, and reinforces public trust in the use of health data for research and service improvement.However, the current implementation presents a structural weakness. Most regional SDEs lack the high-performance computing (HPC) and GPU capability required for modern AI-enabled health research. Where such compute is available, it is typically bundled with commercial cloud services at prices that are four to ten times higher than equivalent capacity available on university-owned infrastructure, and significantly above levels sustainable under NIHR and other public funding streams.This issue extends beyond academic efficiency. International competitors are integrating secure data access and high-performance compute from the outset. Those that do attract leading AI researchers and major pharmaceutical partnerships. Those that do not lose both. The UK currently risks falling into the latter category. This briefing outlines the structural challenges in the current SDE model, describes the emerging national response and makes international comparisons, and offers system-level recommendations.