The Countess of Chester Hospital has launched free Wifi access for all patients, visitors and staff in an effort to make the patient experience even greater.

Up until last month the Trust provided  chargeable Wifi access to patients and visitors via an external company but the Executive Team made the decision to provide the service for free with immediate effect via the hospital's own IT department.

The decision was made to improve the patient experience from a communication, entertainment and, more importantly, a quality care point of view.

Director of Nursing & Quality, Alison Kelly explained: "We are seeing more and more patients using modern technology via items such as smartphones, laptops, and tablet PCs. Communication via the internet is something that most of us take for granted but if you are in a hospital bed and you suddenly don't have that facility on your own device, it can be quite frustrating. We made the decision to offer free Wifi to give patients more flexibility and control over the way they communicate while they are here. As well as internet access providing entertainment it also allows patients to communicate to friends, family and carers in a number of ways such as Facebook, Twitter, Email or even Skype video messaging for those patients who may not get regular visits during normal visiting times."

But it isn't just communication and entertainment that Wifi access will be used for. Clinicians will also be able to use the mobile access to discuss and share information with patients about their care in the comfort of their hospital bed.

Alison added: "This gives our clinical staff the capability of discussing a patient's care in a mobile way which means having patient notes or test results at the touch of a button on a mobile device which can be shown and explained to the patient in a relaxed environment. It makes for an easier and more convenient solution for both the patient and clinician so we see it as a major benefit."

The Trust has used existing IT resources to implement this new free service with no extra investment required, making it an extremely cost effective solution.

To gain access to the Wifi network when on-site, all patients and visitors have to do is connect to the Countess Wifi network, agree to the terms of use, and then enter the password which is available via a member of ward or reception staff. For more information visit: www.coch.nhs.uk/wifi

West Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group in association with Chester Voluntary Action would like to invite you to their Self Care Event.

Self Care Day    
10am - 2pm    
Tuesday 19^th November 2013
Ellesmere Port Civic Centre  

The aim of the event is to support patients, carers and families to think about ways in which they can develop skills that support them in managing positively, their health and wellbeing.

The event aims to inspire people to take control of their health and gain an understanding of services and support groups within their local area that can support them in doing this.

Self care is something we can do all year round and not just during one week. Come and join us and bring along your carer or other family members and make this the first step towards you taking control.

Please come along and join us and get involved in some of the following activities:

• Discuss your health questions with health charities such as Stroke Association  and Vision Support
• Talk to the Fire Service about smoke alarms - or climb aboard the fire engine for a "Bird's", eye view of the plaza!
• Discuss ways to feel safer with the Police.
• Have your blood pressure taken so you 'Know Your Numbers' 
• Find out ways to reduce your risk of heart attacks and strokes
• Learn about how your pharmacist can help you with minor health issues
• Take some time out for yourself and enjoy a mini manicure for free

For any further details please contact:

Lyn Brown
Partnerships Team
Cheshire West and Chester Council
Tel:  01244 972370
Email:  lyn.brown@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk

Staff from Tesco stores in Chester joined forces with the Countess of Chester Hospital recently to tackle dementia. Members of staff from the supermarket chain joined almost 100 people who attended a dementia friends session at the Countess.

Customer service staff from four Tesco stores, (Chester Home Plus, Foregate Street, Sealand Road and Bromborough) attended a Dementia Friends session at the Countess of Chester Hospital last month to help raise awareness of dementia and what we can all do to help.

Dementia Friends information sessions are run by Dementia Friends Champions, who are volunteers who have taken the Dementia Friends Champions training. Each session lasts around one hour and attendees learn more about dementia and how we can help to create dementia friendly communities. There are information sessions running across England.

Andy Tysoe, Dementia Nurse Specialist at the Countess and Dementia Friends Champion said: "This dementia information session was attended by an incredible 92 people including 15 members of staff from Tesco and it was fantastic to see their enthusiasm and engagement during the session. The 'quiet crisis' of dementia can no longer be viewed solely as an issue for health and social care. It impacts and affects us all and the communities in which we live."

Andy added "The Tesco staff have promised to explore my ambition of creating a dementia-friendly checkout till to help raise the profile of this devastating illness and hopefully improve the experience of people with dementia within their communities."

Anyone is welcome to attend a Dementia Friends information session. For details, please visit www.dementiafriends.org.uk or alternatively email the Countess Dementia Team at dementia.friends@nhs.uk.

Please note that we are currently operating a restricted visiting policy due to a number of patients developing diarrhoea and vomiting in the hospital. Visiting is by appointment only via the nurse in charge. This restriction will be in place for the next few days, and a further update will be provided at 12 noon tomorrow (Friday).

Please DO NOT visit any part of the hospital if you are unwell with norovirus.

For more information about Norovirus click here

The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation is supporting the national NHS 'Choose Well' campaign this winter.

The "Choose Well" campaign advises people how to stay well in the cold weather, and if needed, provides practical advice and support about how to choose the right NHS service, at the right time.

There is always extra pressure on A&E services throughout winter, so if you feel unwell, but your case is not an emergency, please consider other ways you can get advice from your local NHS service, instead of phoning 999 or attending A&E.

Click here to view 'Choose Well'  - Dee's A&E Fail Tale video

A new team at the Countess of Chester Hospital will be helping to support World Stroke Day which takes place on Monday 29^th October 2012 to raise awareness around Stroke related illness.

Over the next six months, the Countess of Chester Hospital and Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (CWP) are jointly trialling the implementation of an Early Supported Discharge Team (ESDT) in the treatment of people experiencing Stroke.

The Early Supported Discharge Team has been set up in partnership between the Countess and CWP and will be based at the Countess of Chester Hospital and Ellesmere Port Hospital. The team aims to support the discharge of Stroke patients with early rehabilitation and therapy.

The team is led by Team Coordinator, Kellyann Lea - a Stroke Specialist Speech and Language Therapist who has been involved in providing early supported discharge provision since 2007 at the Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospital Trust.  The team also provides Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Stroke Specialist Nursing as well as support work to assist patients in reaching their rehabilitation goals and care needs.

Kellyann said: "The early rehabilitation of Stroke patients at home following their care in hospital has become a national priority. The goals of the team centre around an increase in functional independence within a stroke patient's home environment, which could likely lead to a reduction in longer term dependency on social care, following a period of intensive rehabilitation."

To help promote this exciting new team, the Early Supported Discharge Team will be hosting a number of awareness events on World Stroke Day.

Stroke is a non-communicable disease that attacks 15 million people worldwide every year and claims a life every six seconds - but it can be beaten.

The World Stroke Campaign aims to disseminate essential life-saving information and share knowledge about actions and lifestyle behaviors that could avert the assault of stroke. The campaign will also identify opportunities to improve and educate the lay public on the fundamental need for appropriate and quality long-term care and support for stroke survivors, including the empowerment of stroke care-providers.

The following events will be taking place at the Countess of Chester Hospital on Monday 29^th October from 10am-3pm at the main entrance area:

• The new Early Supported Discharge Team will be promoting the World Stroke Awareness campaign and will be providing information about their new team and service.
• The Stroke Association will be providing information about their organisation and stroke campaigns to the general public.
• The Stroke Research Team will be contributing a poster all about the Trust's involvement in stroke research.
• Nursing teams will be taking blood pressure readings and offering secondary prevention advice regarding hypertension.
• The Dietetics Department will be providing dietary information leaflets.

For further information about World Stroke Day, please visit: www.worldstrokecampaign.org/

For further information about the new Stroke Early Supported Discharge team contact Kellyann Lea on 01244 362834 or email: kellyann.lea@nhs.net.

Tickets are now available to secure a seat at a special Trust anniversary Thanksgiving Service at Chester Cathedral on Sunday 11 May at 3.30pm.

The event is to celebrate 100 years of Ellesmere Port hospital and 30 years of the Chester hospital. The service will feature the Cheshire Police Band, Cheshire Fire and Rescue Choir, and the London Fanfare of Trumpets.

It is a free event but as places are limited, tickets are required in advance by emailing claire.raggett@nhs.net 

Staff and patients successfully moved into the new Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the Countess of Chester hospital site last week. Key parts of the move and pictures featured as updates on the Trust official social media channels @TheCountessNHS (twitter) and https://www.facebook.com/CountessOfChesterHospital (Facebook). 

We have developed a short film to provide you all with a sneak peak of the new build.  It provides a tour of facilities as well as a range of views on the difference the environment will make for both staff and patients. 

As part of Carers Week 2014, Macmillan Support and Information Service is holding a drop in event in the Healthy Living Centre, Ellesmere Port specifically for people who look after someone with cancer.

Event details:

1.30pm to 3.30pm, Wednesday 11^th June 2014
Venue: The Links Healthy Living Centre,  Civic Hall, Civic Way,
Ellesmere Port, CH65 0AZ

According to new research by Macmillan Cancer Support more than a million people who look after a loved-one with cancer potentially miss out on vital support and benefits.

Liz Taylor, Macmillan Support and Information Manager at the Countess of Chester Hospital explained: "As well as emotional support, cancer carers find themselves having to cope with administering medicine, cooking and cleaning, providing personal care and many other things.  This event aims to reach out to friends, family and carers of people with cancer and to show there is support available." 

TheSupporting You, Supporting Someone event will provide an opportunity to meet others in a similar position, ask questions, pick up information and find out about local services which may be of help.  It is also a chance to take a break and access complementary therapy taster sessions, a cooking demonstration and refreshments.

Sue Davies from Chester cared for her adult son a number of years ago during his cancer treatment. She explained: "It is the carer, family and friends that do most of the worrying, always scared that their loved one will be taken from them. As a parent you never envisage that your child could die before you so when presented with this situation it is the most frightening and surreal time in your life.  My son was diagnosed with rectal cancer at the age of 31 and although it was a terrifying experience for us all it was also positive in many ways. Caring for my son during some of his treatment focused us both on our relationship with each other which is now a very rewarding friendship"

Liz Taylor, Macmillan Support and Information Manager at the Countess of Chester Hospital added: "Whether treatment is expected to cure the cancer, or the person has advanced disease, many people who contact us often say they feel guilty even talking about the fact that they are finding things difficult themselves. The clinical team focus on the needs of the patient but we are able to listen, support and address the concerns of the family, friends, and carers."

Cancer carers can drop in at the Healthy Living Centre, Ellesmere Port on the 11^thJune anytime from 1.30pm to 3.30pm. Alternatively the local Macmillan Support and Information Centre is based in The Countess of Chester Hospital open Monday to Friday 9.30am to 4.30pm.

For more information about the event or any cancer related concerns contact the Macmillan Support and Information Centre by telephone on 01244 364948 or email cancer.support@nhs.net. Anyone affected by cancer is welcome to book an appointment, drop in if passing or telephone to talk about and address their individual needs.

The Countess of Chester Hospital is inviting members of the public to dedicate a light to a loved one at the annual Trees of Light ceremony which will also see their names being entered into a Book of Honour.

Memories and celebrations of loved ones will be lighting up the ceremony at the Trust's main entrance from 6pm on Friday 5th December 2014. Anyone who has lost a close friend or relative, whether or not they were patients at the hospital, is invited to take part in the event, as are people who would simply like to celebrate the life of a loved one. There will also be a short lighting ceremony at Ellesmere Port Hospital on Monday 8th December 2014.

The Aldford Choir and the Chester Wind Band will be appearing at this year's event which will feature music, readings, and hot mince pies.

In addition, the High Sheriff of Cheshire, Susan Sellers will be the event's guest of honour and will be switching the lights on. The ceremony will be led by the Trust's Chaplaincy Co-ordinator, Rev John Kingsley.  

Fundraising Manager, Janet Ratcliffe, said: "The Trees of Light is such a special appeal and gives people the chance to honour lost loved ones or to celebrate the life of a loved one. The fact that our event takes place near Christmas makes it an even more special occasion as it can be an emotional time for people."

Chaplaincy Co-ordinator, Reverend John Kingsley, said: "The proceeds of the Trees of Light annual appeal are used to improve the care and support to patients and relatives at the time of bereavement. This year we will be continuing to develop our bereavement care with the provision of a counselling service. We are extremely grateful for everyone's generosity which has made this work possible through the Trees of Light Appeal."

If you would like to enter an application to have a loved one's name included in the Book of Honour, please contact the Trust's Fundraising department on 01244 366240 or visit the Fundraising Office to complete an application form before Tuesday 26^th November. You can also visit www.coch.nhs.uk/fundraising for more information and to download an applications form.

The Aldford Choir

Chester Wind Band
We are pleased to again be supported by the Chester Wind Band. The Wind band was originally set up in 1989 by Peter McNulty, former Headteacher of Blacon High School and Edward Milner. Concerts are given to raise money for local charities and for the Band to expand their music library. Their repertoire is varied and all musical tastes are catered for.

Our endoscopy decontamination services have been working with http://www.inside-hospitals.co.uk/ a national trade publication, to profile our flagship decontamination facilities at the Trust.

The article published this month celebrates the team work behind the development of the new unit.

The JAG assessor said: "Pound for pound, apart from the super centres, you've got one of the best units in the country. It's outstanding." The new endoscopy reprocessing suite at Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is certainly that - and then some.

To see the feature click here

The Countess of Chester NHS Foundation Trust will this week (Friday) be welcoming HRH The Duchess of Cornwall, Countess of Chester to officially open its new Haygarth Building.

The £15m wing at the rear of the hospital estate houses a flagship 21-bed intensive care unit - all single rooms, overnight relative facilities, a modern endoscopy facility with world class decontamination services and additional outpatient clinic rooms.

The building has been named after John Haygarth an important 18th century physician who spent the majority of his career working in Chester. He was known as one of the best doctors of his time, after discovering new ways to prevent the spread of fever among patients and reduce the mortality rate of smallpox.

Following his death in 1827, a Haygarth medal was established for the best nurse in the Chester Royal Infirmary Hospital. In the 30th anniversary year of The Countess of Chester Hospital this tradition of awarding the Haygarth Medal is being re-established to coincide with the official opening of The Haygarth Building. On Friday, 12 September 2014 the medal will be presented by HRH The Duchess of Cornwall, Countess of Chester to a member of nursing staff in recognition of their outstanding contribution to patient care.

At the same time HRH is unveiling a commemorative piece of sculpture called 'Infinite Care'. This modern sculpture will remain in the courtyard adjacent to the Haygarth building. It is based on the concept of the circle of life, and features the words patients have most commonly used throughout the 2014 anniversary year to describe the care they have received from the nurses and doctors working at the Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

Speaking about the event Trust Chief Executive Tony Chambers said: "Having a Royal visit as part of a year of anniversary celebrations at this hospital is hugely important. The prestige and memories associated with events like this create a lasting impression for both the NHS staff working here and the patients that we care for. The opening of The Haygarth Building marks an exciting and new chapter for the future of this hospital, as we can now provide some of the most modern intensive care and endoscopy facilities anywhere in the country. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to showcase what we have achieved and meet with the Duchess of Cornwall, Countess of Chester."

Additional information about the Intensive Care Unit

• The Countess has spent more than three years planning, developing and building the new wing which is at the rear of the Countess Health Park. Colleagues from finance and facilities have worked with more than 200 clinical and technical leads to get the design right and the services operational.
• The state of the art intensive care facility is a 21-bedded unit, where care is provided to all patients in single rooms. This includes three additional beds to support emergency vascular patients receiving care from the South Mersey Arterial Centre hub that is now based at The Countess.
• The new unit has a purpose built 100% side room facility. This will allow the critical care team to overcome a number of challenges with infection prevention and control, maintain privacy and dignity as well as prevent sleep deprivation and the associated effects this has on prolonging recovery following critical illness.
• There is also a relatives' suite which has been provided by the Countess staff and the people of Chester through local fundraising. This is a unique development within our network for adult critical care services and it means we are now able to provide a place for relatives to rest whilst they are experiencing one of the most traumatic events of their life.

Additional information about Endoscopy

• Endoscopy is a procedure that involves looking inside the body using an endoscope, for investigation and diagnosis of symptoms often related to the digestive system.
• Previously endoscopy services were provided in the Countess Jubilee Centre, the space was adequate but small. The new facility now has separate recovery areas for men and women which allow for a much more private and comfortable experience for our patients. In addition the rooms where clinicians carry out the endoscopy procedures are larger with equipment hanging from ceiling pendants. 

New building fast facts from estates' experts

• It has used 214 tonnes of structural steel
• Approximately 50,000 bricks have been laid
• More than 150,000 metres of cable run throughout the building
• It has 151 timber doors
• Ceilings and flooring amount to 2800 square metres 
• An estimated 2000 litres of paint have been used
• Actual 'man hours' spent building is in excess of 144,000 hours

The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has been rated by patients in an independent survey as among the top performing trusts in the country for the quality of its cancer care

The annual survey  involves patients being asked a series of questions covering a range of stages in their journey, from diagnostics to hospital treatment and after care. Those receiving care at The Countess of Chester rated 32 of the 70 indicators with scores placing local services as among the top 20 per cent in the country, with particular good practice recognised for information made available to patients about their cancer.

Executive Director for Nursing and Quality at the Trust Alison Kelly said: "Feedback forms an important part of our learning culture here at the hospital. The results are a fantastic endorsement for the quality of cancer services provided here at The Countess, as well as in partnership with GPs and community services locally." Alison went to say "this is a real improvement on the last survey and I am proud of the work the team has done to improve care we will continue to use feedback to make improvements in the care that we deliver to our patient"

A total of 153 NHS hospital trusts took part in the annual national survey carried out by independent national research agency Quality Health. The results were based on feedback from 205 adult patients that attended The Countess for cancer services over a three month period at the close of last year (2013). The full survey is available to view on line at the Quality Health website or by accessing the link:  http://www.quality-health.co.uk/resources/surveys/national-cancer-experience-survey/2014-national-cancer-patient-experience-survey/2014-national-cancer-patient-experience-survey-reports/cheshire-and-mersey

In view of national industrial strike action proposed for four hours from 7am and 11am on Monday 13 October the Trust is taking measures to ensure that the quality of patient care is not compromised and any disruption is kept to a minimum.

• Emergency and critical care services will not be affected  (this includes A&E, maternity services, critical and coronary care)
• Emergency and cancer operations will continue
• Outpatient services are expected to be running

We are working with the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) to understand issues for patients who normally come to appointments via ambulance. 

In view of national industrial strike action proposed from 7am and 12 noon on Monday 24 November the Trust is taking measures to ensure that the quality of patient care is not compromised and any disruption is kept to a minimum.

• Emergency and critical care services will not be affected  (this includes A&E, maternity services, critical and coronary care)
• Emergency operations will continue

We are working with the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) to understand issues for patients who normally come to appointments via ambulance. 

There is some disruption to outpatient, radiography services and scheduling for planned and routine operations. Those patients affected have been informed and rescheduled in advance of the strike. The biggest issue and concern for the Trust is that we will see an increase of activity and pressures within our Accident & Emergency department later this afternoon, after the strike has finished and more ambulances potentially start arriving at the hospital. We would ask for the public to be mindful that A&E may be extremely busy, and to think carefully about whether they may be able to get the support they need from their GP, their pharmacist or by calling NHS 111.

As local NHS services brace themselves for one of their busiest winters to date an additional £750,000 is being invested in nursing staff, nursing assistants and emergency care doctors at The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

The move is to support a package of intensive improvements in healthcare services from November through to February next year. It will help the Countess of Chester hospital meet the challenge of 95% of patients arriving in Accident and Emergency being admitted or discharged within four hours. The Trust is currently facing an increase in the number of routine operations that need to be cancelled due to an unprecedented demand on beds from emergency department admissions.

It is planned that investment in additional staff, equipment and services at The Countess of Chester will deliver improvements in the following areas:

• The ambulatory care unit will provide faster access to rapid clinical assessment, diagnostic services and treatment planning for patients who do not need to be admitted to hospital  
• A temporary 'short stay' winter ward will offer 72 hours of acute care for patients in need of short term care from the Acute medicine and Care of the Elderly team with higher therapy input
• An early supported discharge team will look after up to 100 patients in the community on a daily basis with nursing and therapy input, this is of particular benefit for patients with respiratory conditions that worsen during the cold weather
• A new Centre for Healthy Ageing at Ellesmere Port Hospital  will run daily 'drop in' support for older,  frail patients as part of a partnership with the voluntary sector Age UK  

Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Operations at The Countess of Chester Mark Brandreth said:

When a poorly patient arrives at the emergency department and we need to admit them into a bed we are dependent on safe staffing levels, the physical space and a good flow of patients through the hospital. Recent months have seen significant pressures on local services and with this additional investment we have been able to recruit more nurses, nursing assistants and doctors to help us develop alternative services as well as open more beds that will keep us on track this winter.

In addition to this investment at The Countess of Chester, the wider health system will receive a further £850,000 in winter funding to support additional community services and social care activity. Daily meetings are taking place across West Cheshire with involvement from the hospital, GP commissioners, community services and social care to safely transfer patients who no longer need acute medical care to the most appropriate alternative setting. This may be the patient's own home with a package of care, or in some cases it will involve nursing home care. 

Clinical lead for urgent care services at The Countess of Chester Dr Frank Joseph added: "We know that people are living longer, many with multiple complex long term conditions - and the reality is that it is getting more and more difficult to manage. When we admit elderly and frail patients to hospital, they risk losing their independence and are susceptible to infection. This winter our doctors, nurses and therapists have been heavily involved in working with colleagues in both community services and social care to develop different models of care that provide short stay and drop in options for these individuals, who we hope to keep healthy at home."

The Countess of Chester's new Healthy Ageing Centre (HAC) opened its doors to the public for the first time last week as the pioneering service welcomed patients to its facility at Ellesmere Port Hospital.

The HAC blends a medical and social approach to issues facing elderly patients and is a partnership between health and social care agencies as well as the voluntary sector to provide a more joined up solution to caring for the elderly.

The centre, situated in Ellesmere Port Hospital, is in a newly decorated and fully equipped large space with room for the specialist staff such as Geriatric Clinicians, Specialist nurses, Specialist Therapists and a Frailty Co-ordinator who will be involved in this new approach.  Patients, can be referred by their GP, Integrated Care Teams, Rapid Response, Community Geriatrician or A&E and will be assessed by the HAC's multi- disciplinary team including one of HAC's permanent Consultant Geriatricians, Dr Simon Hill or Dr Lisa Flanagan who will undertake a comprehensive geriatric assessment to identify the level of medical input and/or additional support is required to enable them to live well in their home.

Dr Tim Webster Lead Clinician for Care of the Elderly Services explains: "If you can identify issues that affect the elderly as early as possible you can prevent the escalation of problems that may otherwise result in a hospital stay.  Our new Healthy Ageing Centre is designed to work with a number of different teams from the medical, social and voluntary sectors to identify and treat issues before they become crises.  This is why for the first time Age UK will have a permanent representative in our team - a Wellbeing Coordinator - who will identify how the voluntary sector can identify and deliver help to patients who would otherwise struggle in their own homes without additional support."

Ken Clemens, Chief Executive of Age UK in the Northwest added: "70% of people using the NHS are over 65.  People are living longer but with more complex health conditions and it is vital that we do not work in isolation but come together to deliver a multi-agency approach.  The new HAC is helping to address the issues and concerns of older people and their relatives.  It is designed to help older people live the best possible life and Age UK will stay involved in those patients' lives for as long as they need our support." 

"We, as a voluntary organisation are embedded into local communities and are able to access help that the hospital just simply isn't aware of.  Our hospitals do a great job when it comes to physical repair but it is time the social package of care was given just as much emphasis.  With the opening of this HAC for West Cheshire and others in the pipeline throughout the Northwest we are finally seeing a joined up approach to elderly care take shape, gain momentum and make a difference."

Dr Tim Webster commented: "Age UK's breadth of expertise, their network of contacts and database of services means our patients will begin to experience the greater benefit of this approach.  Caring for the elderly can be like a ball of threads.  If you pull on an individual thread the entire ball can start to unravel. If an elderly person suffers from a medical problem, if not supported in the right way it can lead to social isolation and escalation of issues resulting in more severe problems and long term hospital stay.  The HAC is designed to prevent as many cases as possible reaching crisis point by targeting social support much earlier on in the process."

Click here to view our recent Healthy Ageing Centre Facebook post and images.

We are under a huge amount of pressure at the moment and seeing far more A&E patients than we ever have before. Many of these patients are frail with complex needs or long term conditions and need to be admitted. This is leading to capacity problems, both in our A&E department and in other areas.

Every possible effort is being made to safely admit and discharge patients. Other routine activities, such as operations, have been delayed or cancelled. This issue has put additional pressure on already busy services. Our dedicated staff have been working hard to ensure patients are well cared for.

We are urging people to only come to A&E if it is an emergency. Non-emergency patients are likely to have an extremely long wait and could be taking staff away from caring for patients who need emergency or life-saving care. Please bear with us during this time of unprecedented demand and help us prioritise our most urgent patients.

We are grateful for the many messages of goodwill and support that have been coming into the hospital. It means a lot to our clinical teams to know that despite the challenges we are facing, behind us is a community that cares – and this will continue to be a source of inspiration to us in the days ahead.

3:35pm NEW UPDATE: PHONE LINES ARE NOW BACK UP AND RUNNING

BT have informed us that phone lines are now working. Visit BT service status for more information about areas affected.

12.15pm Telephone line update: 

We apologise if you have been trying to call us today.

The Hospital has been experiencing problems receiving incoming phone calls. This may mean that you have been getting an engaged tone when you have tried to call us.

This is an issue with an external BT exchange. It is affecting a large number of households and premises in the Chester and North Wales area.

We are regularly updating our website www.coch.nhs.net and via our Facebook and Twitter @TheCountessNHS

We understand that engineers are working to resolve the issue as a matter of urgency.

Thank you for your patience.

For urgent enquiries, follow the 'Contact us' tab on the main page and complete a contact form enquiry.

Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has joined a massive social media movement launched by a terminally ill doctor from the north of England.

The ‘Hello my name is…’ campaign was spearheaded by Dr Kate Granger, a young hospital consultant from Yorkshire who works in elderly care, to improve the patient experience not only here in the UK, but across the world. Kate became frustrated with the number of staff who failed to introduce themselves to her when she was in hospital. Her campaign on social media platform Twitter is inspiring nurses, doctors, therapists, receptionists, porters, domestics and staff in all roles.

Dr Granger, 33, has terminal cancer, and has made it her mission in whatever time she has left to get as many members of NHS staff as possible pledging to introduce themselves to their patients.
The campaign is simple – reminding staff to go back to basics and introduce themselves to patients properly. Kate talks about this as “the first rung on the ladder to providing compassionate care” and sees it as the start of making a vital human connection, beginning a therapeutic relationship and building trust between patients and healthcare staff.

Alison Kelly, Director of Nursing & Quality, said: “We are delighted to support this campaign, which highlights the importance of treating patients as people and shows how the smallest things can make the biggest difference. As well as asking staff to tell their patient’s their names, we’re also reminding them to introduce colleagues who are taking over an individual’s care following a shift change. That way, our patients and their families will always know who is looking after them, which in turn will help them to relax and feel safe while in our care”.

The Trust is one of more than 100 NHS organisations that have pledged to boost their own ‘Hello my name is…’ collectively on 2nd February. The launch will boost the national campaign around compassionate care considerably, with 400,000+ staff potentially involved.

To show support for Dr Granger’s campaign on Twitter follow @GrangerKate, and use #hellomynameis. To find about more about the campaign, visit www.hellomynameis.org.uk/home