Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust was created on 1 December 2008 from what was formerly known as North Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust. The trust comprises Warrington Hospital, Halton General Hospital in Runcorn and Houghton Hall in Warrington and is responsible for a budget of around £200 million per annum. 4,100 staff work across the hospitals and provide access to care for a population of over 500,000 people. In 2019 it began discussions of a merger with Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.