Countess of Chester Hospital delivers major reduction in waiting times for planned treatment

People in Chester, Ellesmere Port and the surrounding areas are now being seen and treated much faster, as the Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust delivers one of the strongest improvements in waiting times seen anywhere in England this year.

The progress has been recognised nationally, with Chief Executive Jane Tomkinson OBE invited to No.10 Downing Street in June to celebrate the Trust’s achievements on behalf of staff.

Under the NHS Constitution, patients should start routine treatment within 18 weeks of being referred. Over the past year, the Trust – which runs the Countess of Chester Hospital, Ellesmere Port Hospital and services from Tarporley War Memorial Hospital – has made major strides towards this standard. By April, most patients were being treated within 18 weeks, compared to average waits of around 24 weeks last autumn. The number of people being seen within this timeframe by the Trust continued to increase in May. Only a very small number of people (less than 0.8%) are now waiting over a year for treatment, marking one of the fastest reductions in long waits anywhere in England.

For local people, this means faster access to surgery and specialist care, less time living with pain or restricted movement, and a quicker return to work, family life and everyday activities.

Staff have made these improvements by changing how some services work so patients can be seen more quickly. More than 500 people with skin problems have been seen in community clinics instead of waiting for a hospital appointment. Some patients who need vascular tests now have everything done in one visit instead of returning several times. Additional clinics, including at weekends, have also been added in busy specialties to increase capacity.

Cancer services continue to perform well, with most patients being seen within national timeframes, and the Trust remains one of the best in Cheshire and Merseyside for meeting cancer targets.

Cathy Chadwick, Chief Operating Officer at the Trust, said: 

“People can feel the difference. More patients are getting care in the place that’s right for them, whether that’s in hospital or closer to home, because we’re directing people to the right service first time and improving how clinics run. It means they’re being seen sooner and treated faster. Our staff – many of whom live in the communities we serve – have worked incredibly hard to make this happen, and I’m proud of what they’ve achieved for the people of Chester and beyond.”

This improvement in elective care has also helped drive wider progress across the Trust. In the latest national performance table for acute trusts, the Trust moved up 24 places – rising from near the bottom last September to 98^th out of 134, the biggest jump in Cheshire and Merseyside.

Cathy continued: 

“Over the past year our teams have continued to focus on what really matters – getting people treated sooner so they can get back to everyday life. Every patient counts, and that’s been our mindset throughout. When you see someone get the treatment that changes their quality of life, it reminds you why the hard work is worth it.”

The Trust says these improvements are part of a wider plan to modernise services across all its sites. Alongside reducing long waits, the Trust is investing in new buildings, upgrading clinical areas and expanding care closer to home to make services easier to access.

Pictured  - Theatres team, who treated several hundred extra patients in March (a record month), helping more people receive life‑changing surgery such as hip and knee replacements.

Picture Credit - Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.