The hospital was established as a fever hospital and built adjacent to the 'Fishpool Workhouse' in 1872. An isolation block was added in 1893 and a purpose-built infirmary, known as Townley's Hospital, was erected on the site in 1896. The hospital joined the
National Health Service in 1948 and became Bolton District General Hospital in 1951. the latter facility became the Royal Bolton Hospital. The old 'Fishpool Institute' buildings were demolished in 2011. The trust applied for £30 million to upgrade its premises and redesign its information technology in May 2015. The heating and air conditioning systems had reached the end of their useful life. It was given a loan of £22.5 million and a grant of £7.5 million in September 2015. ==Facilities==