Countess of Chester Hospital enhancing parking services with new virtual payment options

The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is introducing a series of improvements to parking at the Countess of Chester Hospital, designed to increase accessibility, convenience and safety for patients and visitors.

In a step towards more efficient parking, a new virtual payment system has been introduced, which allows visitors to pay online, reducing queues at the pay machines and adding extra convenience.  

Visitors can simply scan a QR code advertised throughout the hospital with their phone, enter their registration number and select their preferred payment option via Google, Apple or card.  

Traditional payment machines will still be available for those who prefer not to pay virtually.  

As part of these updates to parking at the hospital, charges have also been restructured for the first time in almost a decade - the parking allowance has been extended to better reflect the average time patients spend on-site, ensuring a fairer rate. 

The new pricing structure sets parking at £3.50 for four hours, with the first 30 minutes free.  

Additionally, several new parking spaces have been added for patients and visitors, including extra Blue Badge spaces to ensure ease of access across the site.  

To help visitors ensure a smoother experience, extra time is advised to ensure parking on arrival.  

As Tuesdays and Thursdays are peak times, patients may also wish to consider alternative transport on those days, such as the local Park and Ride service - a short bus ride from its starting point at Chester Zoo, dropping users outside the hospital on Liverpool Road.  

Karen Edge, The Trust’s Director of Finance, said:  

"We are committed to making every aspect of our hospital experience as accessible, convenient and supportive as possible for our patients and visitors. 

"Whilst we may not always get this right, we hope that with more accessible spaces, a simplified payment process and fairer pricing, we can remove any added stress around parking, allowing patients and visitors to focus on their visit.  

“We remain focused on getting the balance right between our commitment to be a greener and more sustainable NHS hospital and ensuring car parking facilities that are suitable to the varying needs of our patients, visitors and staff,”

It remains the case that car parking must be paid for before leaving, which activates the barriers to raise upon vehicles exiting the hospital car parks. 

Special policies are in place for those visiting end of life patients. To find out more, visitors should ask at the security desk situated at the reception desk inside the main entrance of the Countess of Chester Hospital. 

Any other parking queries can also be directed to the security team based at main reception. 

The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust provides services to West Cheshire and to Welsh patients covered by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. The Trust works collaboratively within the wider Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care System.   

Its services are provided from three locations:

The Countess of Chester Hospital, Ellesmere Port Hospital and Tarporley War Memorial Hospital.