Enter and view: Countess of Chester Hospital, Childrens Ward

Healthwatch Cheshire West conducted an Enter and View visit to the Childrens Ward at the Countess of Chester Hospital on 14 January 2014.

The Childrens Ward is self-contained and situated adjacent to the Paediatric Department. There are 22 beds in a number of separate rooms and two High Dependency rooms with en suite facilities. In addition, there is a six bed Assessment Area and a six bed Day Care area. Male and Female adolescents have dedicated areas each with a small communal space. There is a Sensory Room and a Play Area located in the unit itself.

The overall impression gained by the Healthwatch Team was of a well-organised, caring, clean and positive approach to the difficult and, at times, stressful task of looking after the more vulnerable members of society. The Authorised Representatives were encouraged by the professionalism displayed by all of the staff they encountered.

The report recommends: the Countess of Chester NHS Foundation Trust reduce the cost of parking for parents/carers of children who may be on the Ward for a long time. Parents need to be made aware of what concessions are available and this should be the work of the hospital's patients representatives; increase staffing levels or give guaranteed access to supplementary staffing in the case of staff absenteeism or extra high dependency demand and; give teenagers in bed more privacy than just curtains.

There is no provider response included with this report.