Countess of Chester NHS Foundation Trust
An early adopter of the electronic patient record, now writing a new digital strategy under real pressure on waiting lists and A&E. Here is what the trust is buying, prioritising and piloting - and where health-tech suppliers fit.
The trust at a glance.
A district general at the edge of two systems.
Countess of Chester NHS Foundation Trust runs a district general hospital plus two rehabilitation and community units. The Countess of Chester Hospital holds 473 general and acute beds; Ellesmere Port Hospital adds 60 rehabilitation and intermediate beds with outpatient services; and Tarporley War Memorial Hospital provides a community base.
The trust sits within the Cheshire and Mersey integrated care system, but also serves parts of Wales and works with the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, giving it a cross-border footprint across England and Wales.
It was one of the first trusts to achieve foundation status, in 2004. Its current Care Quality Commission rating is "requires improvement". An unannounced inspection in early 2024 focused on access, patient flow and delayed discharges, alongside training, infection control, risk management and governance. Inspectors found the trust's relationship with its staff improving, and described staff as resilient under significant pressure and compassionate towards patients, families and carers.
Why Countess of Chester is opening its doors.
The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is already doing good things for a relatively small organisation. We have invested in infrastructure, records, and analytics, and have a reputation for punching above our weight, digitally.
Now we want to go further. That's why we are so excited about the opportunity to host an Elevate showcase, where technology providers can engage and inspire our colleagues by demonstrating just what's possible.
This will be a brilliant opportunity for our staff to see some great innovation, and I hope it will inspire them to think about how it could improve their working lives, find new ways of doing things, and deliver an even better service for the patients that we serve.