The Health Care Libraries Unit (HCLU) was established in 1999 following the SECTA Review of NHS libraries or SECTA Review Executive Summary. HCLU was originally set up to cover the North West of England but in 2015 took over responsibility for all NHS LKS in the North of England.

The unit is funded by and is responsible to Health Education England North West, Health Education England North East and Health Education England working across Yorkshire and the Humber.