Countess of Chester Hospital unveils new paediatrics department

This week, the Countess of Chester Hospital opened its new, larger Women & Children’s Building, including a redesigned Paediatrics Department focused on comfort, care, and family connection.

The new inpatient area offers single rooms with ensuite bathrooms to provide privacy for every child, allowing families to stay together in a supportive environment.

A parent or carer can stay overnight with their child, offering comfort and reassurance during challenging times. The department also includes child-friendly areas with play facilities and access to play specialists, who use distraction therapies to ease anxiety and make hospital visits less daunting.

Pippa Scott-Heale, Director of Women and Children's Services said:

“We’ve designed this department to feel like a home away from home. By facilitating families to stay close, we’re enhancing the experience of a hospital stay for both children and their loved ones.”

The Acute Paediatrics team at the Countess of Chester Hospital cares for children up to the age of 16, with some patients supported up to 18 years. The new department will feature a 22-bed ward, including two high-dependency rooms and dedicated spaces for adolescents. The team treats a wide range of conditions such as paediatric diabetes, epilepsy and respiratory illnesses, and also provides shared care for paediatric oncology patients in partnership with Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust. In addition, the hospital offers a children’s surgical day case unit and works closely with surgical specialties including ENT, urology and general surgery.

As Karen Flewitt, Children's Unit Manager at the Countess of Chester Hospital, explained: 

“The new space allows us to provide care that meets the needs of modern families, with single rooms for privacy, brighter surroundings, and thoughtful touches to create a calming environment.”

The hospital also boasts an updated Children’s Assessment Unit to further improve the way it is able to work with clinical teams within the Paediatric Emergency Department to treat acute illnesses. Families will also benefit from the support of a dedicated play team who help children during recovery.

The new Paediatrics Department is a space where families are at the heart of care, offering a more supportive and family-focused environment for both children and all who care for them.

Pictured - How the single en-suite bedrooms for each patient and a parent or carer will look.