Patients, Visitors & The Public

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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