Former MP Andy Carter to Lead Warrington and Halton Hospitals into a New Era

Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has appointed Andy Carter, the former MP for Warrington South, as its next chair following a competitive recruitment process. He will join the organisation in January 2026 as an associate non executive director and chair designate before formally taking up the position on the first of April, succeeding Professor Steve McGuirk.

Carter’s appointment marks a return to public service in the community he represented in Parliament for five years. During his time as an MP he was closely involved in local health issues, often campaigning for improvements to urgent and elective care capacity in the region. That experience shapes the priorities he has set for his new role, particularly his focus on securing first class healthcare infrastructure for Warrington and building a modern urgent treatment centre that can withstand the pressures of rising demand.

The trust covers a large and diverse population across Warrington and Halton, operating two hospital sites while supporting a wide range of acute, community and diagnostic services. It is an organisation facing the familiar pressures of workforce shortages, ageing estates and increasing attendances, yet it also has strong local support and a record of close partnership with primary care and local government. Board leadership in this context is not a ceremonial function. It is central to creating the conditions in which clinicians can deliver safe, timely care.

By stepping in as chair designate three months ahead of his full appointment, Carter will have time to build relationships across the trust’s hospitals, understand operational challenges in detail and work alongside executives on strategic planning. This transitional period is designed to bring stability and continuity as the trust moves into a phase of significant decision making about its estate and services.

Carter has already signalled that he intends to champion investment that brings facilities up to modern standards. For years, leaders in Warrington have argued that the local population needs hospital buildings that reflect twenty first century care. The same argument applies to the urgent treatment centre, which remains a focal point for residents who want faster access, more capacity and a service designed around the real pattern of demand.

The appointment will inevitably draw interest because Carter comes from a political background. But the role of chair is about governance rather than partisan positions. It requires balancing accountability with strategic foresight and ensuring the trust’s leadership team is supported and challenged in equal measure. Those close to the appointment process believe his mix of local knowledge, public service experience and community rapport gives him a strong foundation for the task.

The coming years will be critical for Warrington and Halton. Population growth, pressure on emergency care and the need for substantial capital investment all demand steady leadership. Carter’s arrival signals intent. It suggests a trust preparing to take difficult decisions, engage more directly with its communities and make the case for the infrastructure its population has long needed.