Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (COCH)
Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust employs almost 4,000 staff and provides a range of medical services to more than 445,000 patients per year, across Western Cheshire, Ellesmere Port, Neston and North Wales. The Trust consists of a large district General Hospital with 600 beds, and an Intermediate Care Service with 64 beds at Ellesmere Port Hospital – a set up which supports the Trust’s vision to provide ‘Integrated Care at its Best’.
The Countess of Chester Hospital has an excellent reputation for delivering high quality patient care and is nationally accredited at the highest levels in many areas, especially those relating to clinical outcomes and patient safety. Of particular note is the Hospital’s Midwifery Service, which was recently given the NHS Innovator of the Year award for successfully reducing the induction of labour and caesarean section rate and improving the patient experience.
The hospital has benefitted from a £111,000 refurbishment of its birthing suites and Antenatal Day Unit, creating a much more welcoming and relaxing space for patients with upgraded facilities including two birthing pools, two specialist birthing couches and a utility room with more effective storage space.
Another notable new development is the Countess of Chester’s new Healthy Ageing Centre (HAC), based at Ellesmere Port Hospital, which blends a medical and social approach to provide a more joined up solution to caring for the elderly.
INTEGRATED CARE AT ITS BEST
“Our plan is about our patients. It is about delivering the best clinical outcomes, exceeding expectations of our patients in terms of the experience they receive, using all of our resources at our disposal well and supporting our staff to deliver this by being a valued employer.”
Strategic direction:
“Our longer term strategic direction is built on three key programmes of work:
• West Cheshire Way working with our local healthcare and other related partners to drive service re-design and integrate care for the residents of Western Cheshire.
• Integrated Specialist Services providing the right services to meet the needs of our patients, either as part of clinical network or as a specialist centre in our own right.
• Countess 20:20 reviewing our core services to ensure they deliver the health outcomes and quality that our patients deserve.”
Current Job Vacancies
There are currently no vacancies.
Living in Chester
Countess of Chester Hospital is located in Chester, a city in North West England that came into existence in the 1st century AD, when a Roman fortress – whose extensive red sandstone walls can still be seen today – was constructed. A few miles north, not far from the banks of the River Mersey, is sister hospital, Ellesmere Port.
Positioned on the border with Wales, and just 30 miles south of Liverpool, both Chester and Ellesmere Port are within equal distance of some of the UK’s most dynamic cities and most beautiful countryside. They also benefit from an excellent public transport system, so whether you fancy a weekend break in the picturesque Welsh countryside, want to spend the day exploring the ‘Rows’ in Chester’s medieval shopping district, or even need to fly home from Liverpool or Manchester airport, it’s all within reach!
To learn more about Chester and the County of Cheshire, take a look at the Visit Cheshire website. You can also find out what it’s like to work for Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Trust here.
Cost of living
The actual cost of living in any part of Britain can vary a lot, depending on the type of accommodation you find, as well as your personal spending habits and lifestyle. However, it’s fair to say that the County of Cheshire is a relatively affordable place to live when compared with other parts of the UK (especially London and South-East of England). To get a sense of how much various goods and services cost, we recommend having a look at the Numbeo website.
