The Countess of Chester Hospital
NHS hospital · Chester
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The Countess of Chester Hospital is an NHS hospital in Chester, run by Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. See whether it has an A&E, its phone number, visiting and how to get there.
At a glance
- A&E
- A&E open 24 hours
- Planned care wait
- Half waited less than 12 weeks (whole trust)
- CQC rating
- Requires improvement (published 31 July 2026)
- Telephone
- 01244 365000
Information checked 16 October 2026.
Urgent help
Call 999 or go to A&E if someone is seriously ill or injured, or their life is at risk. For urgent help that is not an emergency, use NHS 111 online or call 111.
Waiting times at Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
These figures are for the whole trust, including any other sites it runs, not just The Countess of Chester Hospital. Waits at this hospital may be shorter or longer.
A&E: time spent in A&E
50.3% of people who went to the trust’s major A&E departments in September 2026 were admitted, transferred or discharged within 4 hours.
5,968 attendances. England average for major A&E departments: 60.6%. In an emergency, go to the nearest A&E or call 999.
Compare A&E waiting times at other hospitals.
Waiting for planned treatment
These are people who were still waiting at the end of August 2026 for non-urgent treatment led by a consultant, counted from the referral. The table shows the trust’s 5 specialties with the most people waiting. “Half waited less than” is the median wait. The NHS maximum waiting time for non-urgent, consultant-led treatment is 18 weeks.
| Specialty | People waiting | Half waited less than | 92 in 100 waited less than | Waiting under 18 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ear, nose and throat | 2,789 | 13 weeks | 28 weeks | 65.6% |
| Ophthalmology | 2,725 | 11 weeks | 32 weeks | 71% |
| Gynaecology | 2,482 | 13 weeks | 43 weeks | 61.6% |
| Dermatology | 2,360 | 9.9 weeks | 28 weeks | 76.4% |
| Trauma and orthopaedics | 2,334 | 12 weeks | 37 weeks | 67.2% |
| All specialties | 29,011 | 12 weeks | 36 weeks | 68.4% |
Show all 15 specialties at this trust
| Specialty | People waiting | Half waited less than | 92 in 100 waited less than | Waiting under 18 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oral surgery | 1,843 | 19 weeks | 45 weeks | 47% |
| Urology | 1,156 | 10 weeks | 32 weeks | 73.9% |
| General surgery | 963 | 12 weeks | 34 weeks | 66.8% |
| Respiratory medicine | 938 | 9.2 weeks | 26 weeks | 79% |
| Plastic surgery | 815 | 7.4 weeks | 36 weeks | 76.7% |
| Gastroenterology | 769 | 8.5 weeks | 20 weeks | 90.2% |
| Cardiology | 745 | 8.8 weeks | 26 weeks | 79.6% |
| Rheumatology | 419 | 10 weeks | 21 weeks | 83.8% |
| Elderly medicine | 284 | 6.4 weeks | 20 weeks | 88% |
| General internal medicine | 67 | 3.5 weeks | 13 weeks | 97% |
If your GP refers you, in most cases you have the legal right to choose which hospital you go to for your first appointment. Compare waiting times at hospitals near you.
Source: NHS England, Consultant-led Referral to Treatment Waiting Times (August 2026, published 8 October 2026) and A&E Attendances and Emergency Admissions (September 2026). Official statistics for the trust as a whole. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Open Government Licence.
Procedures at this hospital
Published figures for The Countess of Chester Hospital from national audits and NHS statistics, from the UK Hospitals Guide. Each guide page explains what the figures mean and compares hospitals in the North West. This is not a ranking.
Figures for this hospital
- Hip replacement
570Joint replacements, all joints, 2025 (NJR)
Middle hospital in the North West: 667400 to 749. NJR outlier analysis (90-day mortality and revision rates): Not identified as an outlier - Knee replacement
570Joint replacements, all joints, 2025 (NJR)
Middle hospital in the North West: 667400 to 749. NJR outlier analysis (revision rates): Not identified as an outlier - Hip fracture surgery
394People treated for a hip fracture, 2025 (NHFD)
Middle hospital in the North West: 422300 to 399. Deaths within 30 days (case-mix adjusted): 4% - Emergency bowel surgery (emergency laparotomy)
83Emergency laparotomies, NELA year 11
Middle hospital in the North West: 11875 to 99. Deaths within 30 days (risk-adjusted): Within the 95% funnel limits - Stroke care
139Stroke patients, January to March 2026 (SSNAP)
Middle hospital in the North West: 139Stroke team. 75 to 149. SSNAP level (A is highest, E lowest): Level D
Figures for the whole trust
These are published for the trust as a whole. The operation may be done at another of its hospitals.
- Bowel cancer surgery Major bowel cancer operations, 2024 (NBOCA): fewer than 100 (92). Deaths within 90 days of surgery (adjusted): 3.4%
- Breast cancer surgery Women having breast cancer surgery, 2021 to 2023 (NAoPri): fewer than 600 (490). Further operation after breast-conserving surgery (adjusted): 16.1%
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair Planned (elective) AAA repairs in 2024 (NVR): 50 or more (64). Deaths in hospital after planned repair (adjusted): 0.0%
- Carotid endarterectomy Carotid endarterectomies in 2024 (NVR): 50 or more (74). Stroke or death within 30 days (adjusted): 0.4%
- Leg artery bypass and angioplasty (peripheral arterial disease) Leg artery bypass operations in 2024 (NVR): 150 or more (203). Deaths in hospital after bypass (adjusted): 2.5%
- Major leg amputation Major leg amputations in 2024 (NVR): 100 or more (108). Deaths in hospital within 30 days (adjusted): 4.5%
- Carpal tunnel release treatments across all the trust’s hospitals: 750 to 1,499
- Lumbar decompression (lower back surgery) treatments across all the trust’s hospitals: 150 to 399
- Coronary artery bypass graft (heart bypass) treatments across all the trust’s hospitals: fewer than 750
- Coronary angioplasty and stents treatments across all the trust’s hospitals: fewer than 750
- Varicose vein treatment treatments across all the trust’s hospitals: 1,500 to 2,999
- Inguinal hernia repair treatments across all the trust’s hospitals: 1,500 to 2,499
- Gallbladder removal treatments across all the trust’s hospitals: 750 to 999
- Haemorrhoid (piles) surgery
- Weight loss surgery
- Cataract surgery treatments across all the trust’s hospitals: 3,000 to 7,499
- Tonsil removal (tonsillectomy) treatments across all the trust’s hospitals: 1,500 to 2,999
- Grommets for glue ear treatments across all the trust’s hospitals: 500 to 749
- Hysterectomy treatments across all the trust’s hospitals: fewer than 1,500
- Giving birth and caesarean section treatments across all the trust’s hospitals: fewer than 3,000
- Prostate surgery for an enlarged prostate (TURP)
- Kidney stone treatment
Sources: national clinical audits (NJR, NHFD, NELA, SSNAP, NATCAN, NVR) and NHS England statistics, under the Open Government Licence or CC BY 4.0. Data updated 26 October 2026.
Opening times
Opening days and times
Hospital wards are staffed 24 hours a day. The A&E department is open 24 hours a day, every day.
Outpatient clinics, tests and scans run at set times. Your appointment letter or text message tells you when and where to go.
See Visiting for visiting times.
A&E status: NHS England emergency care data (Emergency Care Data Set, August 2026).
Appointments and access
First outpatient appointments
To see a specialist at an NHS hospital, you usually need a referral, for example from your GP, dentist or optometrist.
In most cases you have the right to choose which hospital you are referred to for your first outpatient appointment.
Your referral is usually booked through the NHS e-Referral Service. You can then manage it in the NHS App or on the NHS website.
Some services let you refer yourself, such as maternity care.
If you already have an appointment, use the phone number on your appointment letter.
Contact the hospital to book or to ask about appointments.
Contact
Main telephone
Telephone: 01244 365000
Contact the hospital to book or to ask about appointments.
Location and travel
Address and map
The Countess of Chester Hospital
Executive Suite
Countess Of Chester Health Park
Liverpool Road
Chester
CH2 1UL
Find care near here
Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026.
Car parking
Two main car parks use ticketless number-plate recognition, with payment by cash, card, contactless or app. Up to 30 minutes is free; then 30 min - 4 hours is £3.75, 4 – 6 hours £5.90, 6 – 12 hours £8.00 and 12 – 24 hours £10.00 (revised charges update 17/08/26).
Parking is free for Blue Badge holders if the badge is clearly displayed; the vehicle should be registered via the online form on the trust page.
From the hospital's car parking page, checked 15 November 2026. Charges and car park rules can change, so check before you travel.
NHS hospitals in England must offer free car parking to Blue Badge holders who are patients or visitors, outpatients who attend at least 3 times in a month for at least 3 months, the parent or guardian of a child under 18 staying in overnight (7.30pm to 8am, up to 2 vehicles) and staff working night shifts. Ask the hospital how to claim it, as you may need to register your vehicle.
Source: NHS car parking guidance, Department of Health and Social Care (updated 29 March 2022), checked 15 November 2026.
Facilities
We do not have details of step-free access, parking or other facilities here yet. If you need them, contact the hospital before you go.
Visiting
Visiting times
The trust operates an open-door policy for family and friends, but visiting times differ by ward. For example, the Intensive Care Unit welcomes visitors between 1pm – 4.30pm and 6pm – 7.30pm.
From the hospital's visiting page, checked 15 November 2026.
Book, change or complain
- Book or manage your first outpatient appointment
- Patient advice (PALS) and other contact details
- This hospital on the NHS website
- Manage your referral (NHS e-Referral Service)
- What the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) does
- Read inspection reports (CQC)
- Get an email when CQC inspects this hospital
- Tell CQC about your care
- Find your local Healthwatch
About this hospital
| Run by | Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust |
|---|---|
| Providers with services here | Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust |
| Type | NHS hospital |
| NHS or private | NHS |
| Local authority | Cheshire West and Chester |
More details
| NHS organisation code | RJR05 |
|---|---|
| CQC location ID | RJR05 |
Official website: The Countess of Chester Hospital website
Hospital services
CQC lists these regulated service types at this location:
- Community services - Healthcare
- Hospital
Service types are regulatory categories, not a full list of departments. Being registered for a service does not always mean it is running now. Check with the hospital.
Also on this site
Other NHS organisations are registered with the CQC for services at this site. Each rating belongs to that organisation's registration only.
- Bowmere Hospital – run by Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. CQC rating: not rated at this registration. CQC record
Regulation and quality
This location is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). The latest published ratings are below.
| Area | Rating | Published |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | Requires improvement | 31 July 2026 |
| Caring | Good | 31 July 2026 |
| Effective | Requires improvement | 31 July 2026 |
| Responsive | Requires improvement | 31 July 2026 |
| Safe | Requires improvement | 31 July 2026 |
| Well-led | Requires improvement | 31 July 2026 |
Read the CQC report for The Countess of Chester Hospital
Frequently asked questions
What is the telephone number for The Countess of Chester Hospital?
Telephone: 01244 365000.
Is there parking at The Countess of Chester Hospital?
Two main car parks use ticketless number-plate recognition, with payment by cash, card, contactless or app. Up to 30 minutes is free; then 30 min - 4 hours is £3.75, 4 – 6 hours £5.90, 6 – 12 hours £8.00 and 12 – 24 hours £10.00 (revised charges update 17/08/26). Parking is free for Blue Badge holders if the badge is clearly displayed; the vehicle should be registered via the online form on the trust page. Checked 15 November 2026.
What are the visiting hours at The Countess of Chester Hospital?
The trust operates an open-door policy for family and friends, but visiting times differ by ward. For example, the Intensive Care Unit welcomes visitors between 1pm – 4.30pm and 6pm – 7.30pm. Checked 15 November 2026; wards can change their times, so check before you go.
What is the CQC rating of The Countess of Chester Hospital?
The latest overall CQC rating is Requires improvement, published 31 July 2026.
Nearby hospitals
Specialist hospital · No A&E
Clatterbridge Road, Wirral, CH63 4JY
About 10.1 miles away
Specialist hospital · Gynaecology emergency department
Crown Street, Liverpool, L8 7SS
About 13.4 miles away
A&E open 24 hours
Arrowe Park Road, Wirral, CH49 5PE
About 13.8 miles away
Distances are straight-line estimates from postcode locations.
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Printed from https://ukhospitals.uk/hospital/the-countess-of-chester-hospital/ on 15 November 2026.