Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Encyclopedia
The Countess of Chester is the main NHS
hospital for the Chester
area with 625 beds. It was officially opened as such on 30 May 1984, but the accident and emergency wards were open from 1983, and a hospital has existed on site since 1829. Initially it was a mental health
unit, called the 'Lunatic Asylum Building'. The building's name continually changed during the 19th and early 20th centuries from Cheshire Lunatic Asylum, to Chester County Lunatic Asylum, County Mental Hospital, Upton Mental Hospital, Deva Hospital and finally West Cheshire Hospital.
As treatment for mental illness changed from imprisonment to medication and therapy, the hospital became less busy. Eventually, less than 5% of patients were forced to stay in hospital.
In 1983, a new A&E department and general hospital unit opened on the site, which was then renamed Countess of Chester
, in honour of one the Princess of Wales
's more obscure titles. The naming ceremony was performed by the Prince and Princess of Wales, Charles
and Diana
.
At the time, Chester had two other hospitals: Chester Royal Infirmary
and Chester City Hospital. However, as the Countess grew, the other two hospitals became redundant, with the Royal Infirmary closing in 1993, and Chester City in 1994.
Being built on a very large brownfield site, the hospital is only 2 or 3 storeys high in most places, but covers a vast area. The most distinctive part of the hospital is the glass 'sky-bridge', which links the main hospital with the paediatric and pre-natal wings.
The hospital was one of the first Foundation Trusts and is generally considered to be of a high quality. It has consistently received the top 3-star rating in the national performance charts.
Several well-known Cestrians have been born in the hospital including Michael Owen
and his children.
The Countess of Chester was also the first hospital in the UK to completely ban smoking
for both workers and patients.
National Health Service
The National Health Service is the shared name of three of the four publicly funded healthcare systems in the United Kingdom. They provide a comprehensive range of health services, the vast majority of which are free at the point of use to residents of the United Kingdom...
hospital for the Chester
Chester
Chester is a city in Cheshire, England. Lying on the River Dee, close to the border with Wales, it is home to 77,040 inhabitants, and is the largest and most populous settlement of the wider unitary authority area of Cheshire West and Chester, which had a population of 328,100 according to the...
area with 625 beds. It was officially opened as such on 30 May 1984, but the accident and emergency wards were open from 1983, and a hospital has existed on site since 1829. Initially it was a mental health
Mental health
Mental health describes either a level of cognitive or emotional well-being or an absence of a mental disorder. From perspectives of the discipline of positive psychology or holism mental health may include an individual's ability to enjoy life and procure a balance between life activities and...
unit, called the 'Lunatic Asylum Building'. The building's name continually changed during the 19th and early 20th centuries from Cheshire Lunatic Asylum, to Chester County Lunatic Asylum, County Mental Hospital, Upton Mental Hospital, Deva Hospital and finally West Cheshire Hospital.
As treatment for mental illness changed from imprisonment to medication and therapy, the hospital became less busy. Eventually, less than 5% of patients were forced to stay in hospital.
In 1983, a new A&E department and general hospital unit opened on the site, which was then renamed Countess of Chester
Earl of Chester
The Earldom of Chester was one of the most powerful earldoms in medieval England. Since 1301 the title has generally been granted to heirs-apparent to the English throne, and from the late 14th century it has been given only in conjunction with that of Prince of Wales.- Honour of Chester :The...
, in honour of one the Princess of Wales
Princess of Wales
Princess of Wales is a British courtesy title held by the wife of The Prince of Wales since the first "English" Prince of Wales in 1283.Although there have been considerably more than ten male heirs to the throne, there have been only ten Princesses of Wales. The majority of Princes of Wales...
's more obscure titles. The naming ceremony was performed by the Prince and Princess of Wales, Charles
Charles, Prince of Wales
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales is the heir apparent and eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Since 1958 his major title has been His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. In Scotland he is additionally known as The Duke of Rothesay...
and Diana
Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales was the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, whom she married on 29 July 1981, and an international charity and fundraising figure, as well as a preeminent celebrity of the late 20th century...
.
At the time, Chester had two other hospitals: Chester Royal Infirmary
Chester Royal Infirmary
The former Chester Royal Infirmary is located in City Walls Road, Chester, Cheshire, England. The original hospital building has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade II listed building.-History:...
and Chester City Hospital. However, as the Countess grew, the other two hospitals became redundant, with the Royal Infirmary closing in 1993, and Chester City in 1994.
Today
The hospital has a new extended outpatient wing known as the CARE building or Outpatients four. This houses the Cardiac Catheter Laboratory, Department of Clinical Audiology, Renal & Urology Department and ENT Department and was opened in January 2006.Being built on a very large brownfield site, the hospital is only 2 or 3 storeys high in most places, but covers a vast area. The most distinctive part of the hospital is the glass 'sky-bridge', which links the main hospital with the paediatric and pre-natal wings.
The hospital was one of the first Foundation Trusts and is generally considered to be of a high quality. It has consistently received the top 3-star rating in the national performance charts.
Several well-known Cestrians have been born in the hospital including Michael Owen
Michael Owen
Michael James Owen is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for Manchester United.The son of former footballer Terry Owen, Owen began his senior career at Liverpool in 1996. He progressed through the Liverpool youth team and scored on his debut in May 1997...
and his children.
The Countess of Chester was also the first hospital in the UK to completely ban smoking
Tobacco smoking
Tobacco smoking is the practice where tobacco is burned and the resulting smoke is inhaled. The practice may have begun as early as 5000–3000 BCE. Tobacco was introduced to Eurasia in the late 16th century where it followed common trade routes...
for both workers and patients.