Visiting
Updated on 24 March 2025
UPDATE: Visiting resumed at the Countess of Chester Hospital
Following a temporary pause to visiting in most areas of our hospital due to a rise in norovirus cases, we are pleased to confirm that normal visiting has now resumed.
Thank you for your patience and understanding during the past couple of weeks.
Pausing visiting was not a decision we took lightly and we know it has been difficult for relatives to be apart from their loved ones; however, it has had the desired effect of preventing the spread of norovirus.
Whilst normal visiting has resumed, norovirus is a seasonal illness that we must be mindful of.
Please continue to help keep our patients safe by:
• avoiding visiting if you are feeling unwell
• if you are visiting, please be aware that norovirus can spread in non-symptomatic people and use the hand sanitisers that are on our wards.
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Visiting inpatient areas at Countess of Chester Hospital
The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust operates an open-door policy for family and friends. This means that wherever possible, we welcome you spending time with your loved ones when it is convenient for you.
However, we do ask visitors not to attend our hospitals to visit patients if they have any flu / COVID-19 symptoms or if they have tested positive for COVID-19. This is to protect our patients, many of whom are vulnerable, and our staff. Please read our infection control advice leaflet for visitors.
While we know that patients need rest, we also believe that having loved ones nearby, whilst in hospital, often helps patient feel better and aids their recovery.
As a family member, carer, or friend of a patient, we know that your needs are also important, especially during this often-stressful time. We want you to feel part of the journey through our hospital and be as involved as a much as you are comfortable with. Please do talk to staff to see how you can be a partner in your loved one’s care.
There may be times when we may ask you to leave the ward area, for example, during medical procedures or emergencies. If this is necessary, we will discuss this with you at the time. If wards are caring for patients with flu / COVID-19 then visiting arrangements may be restricted or temporarily suspended in those areas. In those circumstances this will be reviewed regularly with visiting reopening as soon as possible. Visitors are advised to contact any wards affected for updates. Below is a full list of visiting guidelines by department, along with contact numbers for each area.
Visiting in specialist areas
Click the link below for further information on visting any of the specialist areas.
Getting around our Hospital
Our wayfinding system uses yellow ‘junction’ signs to make the hospital easier to navigate. You can find a map of the hospital online here.
Contact Numbers
Ward number
|
Contact number
|
Ward 29 – Children’s Day Case (CDC) / Children’s Assessment Unit (CAU)
|
CDC: 01244 363 300
CAU: 01244 364 695
|
Ward 30 – Children’s Ward
|
01244 365 074 / 01244 365 076
|
Wards 31 – Maternity
|
01244 365 178
|
Ward 33 Maternity Ward (Cestrian)
|
01244 365 178
|
Ward 34 – Care of the Elderly
|
01244 365 141 / 01244 362 034
|
Ward 35 – Labour Ward
Maternity Triage
|
01244 365 026
01244 365 806
|
Ward 40 – Medical patients - Wales
|
01244 362 138 / 01244 362 040
|
ICU
|
01244 363 039 / 01244 363 072
|
Ward 41 – Orthopaedics
|
01244 365 161 / 01244 362 041
|
Cardiology Unit
|
01244 362 140 / 01244 366 508
|
Ward 42
|
01244 362 042 / 01244 365 601
|
Ward 43 – Endocrinology / Haematology / Diabetes
|
01244 365 402 / 01244 363 549
|
Ward 44 – Diabetes and Endocrinology
|
01244 365 688 / 01244 365 453
|
Ward 45 – Gastroenterology
|
01244 362 045 / 01244 365 065
|
Ward 46/47 – AMU - Accute Medical Admissions
|
01244 365 607 / 01244 365 975
|
Ward 48/49 Respiratory Support
|
01244 362 785 / 01244 363 392
|
Ward 50 – Care of the Elderly
|
01244 366 105 / 01244 366 049 - ext: 2050
|
Ward 51 – Care of the Elderly
|
01244 365 397 / 01244 362 051
|
Ward 52 – General Surgery and Urology
|
01244 366 330 / 01244 362 052
|
Ward 53 – Vascular
|
01244 366 335 / 01244 362 053
|
Ward 54 – Elective Surgery
|
01244 362 257 - ext: 2257 & 6845
|
Ward 55 – Westminster Eye Clinic
|
01244 366 438 / 01244 364 33
|
Ward 56 - Elective surgical admissions
|
01244 364 563 / 01244 364 564 / 01244 364 565
|
Ward 60 – Medical Day Unit
|
01244 366 355
ext: 5953 - 5954
|
Modular Ward - Care of the Elderly
|
01244 36 3923 / 01244 363 925
|
ED Reception
|
01244 365 224
|
Jubilee Day Surgery Centre
|
01244 366 045
01244 366 032 - (ext: 2072)
|
Ellesmere Port Hospital – Stroke Rehab Ward
|
01244 362 978
|
Ellesmere Port Hospital – Bluebell Ward
|
01244 362 818
|
Ellesmere Port Hospital – Poppy Ward
|
01244 362 513
|
Intensive Care Unit
Family and friends are welcome on our Intensive Care Unit between 1pm – 3pm and 6pm – 7:30pm. We recognise that alternative arrangements may be needed for special circumstances. A member of the nursing team will be able to discuss alternative arrangements with you to support you and your relative’s needs during this time.
Coronary Care Unit
As patients often require additional rest on the unit, we encourage no more the 2 patient visitors at a time. We recognise that alternative arrangements may be needed for special circumstances. A member of the nursing team will be able to discuss alternative arrangements with you to support you and your relative’s needs during this time.
Ellesmere Port Hospital
We welcome an open visiting approach between 7.30am and 8pm 7 days a week.
We recognise that alternative arrangements may be needed for special circumstances.
A member of the nursing team will be able to discuss alternative arrangements with you to support you and your relative’s needs during this time.
Maternity Unit
You can find all our Maternity ward visiting times on our Maternity page
Childrens day case and Childrens assessment unit
CDA AND CDU - Parents can stay over night
Childrens ward
Ward 30 – Children’s Ward. Two parents/carers can visit all day. Other visitors can attend from 1pm to 3pm and 5pm to 7pm. A maximum of two people can be at the patient’s bed at any time
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