Ellesmere Port Hospital

Updated 14 February 2024

Ellesmere Port Hospital is one of two hospital sites managed by the Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. The hospital provides medical care services, outpatient services, rehabilitation and intermediate care to patients over 65 years age. Patients admitted to this hospital no longer require acute medical support.

There is a small outpatient facility shared with other community services and a community diagnostic hub containing X Ray, CT, and MRI. The x-ray department is close by with two rooms available.

The hospital has three inpatient rehabilitation wards.

The Bluebell Ward is a general rehabilitation ward with 24 beds across 5 bays and 3 side rooms.

The Stroke Ward is a stroke rehabilitation ward with 16 beds across 3 bays and 3 side rooms. Neurotherapy staff also work closely with patients on this ward.

The Poppy Ward is a general rehabilitation ward with 19 beds across 4 bays and 2 side rooms.

We visited Ellesmere Port Hospital as part of our unannounced inspection of the Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation trust on 17 to 19 October 2023. During this inspection, the team inspected the following core service at Ellesmere Port Hospital:

• Medical care (including older people's care)

Updated 14 February 2024

Updated 29 June 2016

• The outpatient department was a space that is shared with other local community services during out of hour’s periods.

• There is some clinic and radiology activity, however; the main outpatient and radiology activity, took place at the Countess of Chester Hospital. As a result, we have reported our findings for the safe and well-led sections, however; not rated the service.

• Systems were in place for the maintenance of equipment.

• We observed that some aspects of outpatient rooms and medical equipment at Ellesmere Port hospital were shared with other organisations.

• The checking of resuscitation equipment at Ellesmere Port hospital and processes for managing the outpatients and x-ray departments were not robust.

• Patients’ records were maintained on paper ad via electronic systems, although; plans for changes in electronic systems were in place.

• There was a clear vision and strategy for the future.

• The management teams were stable and committed to patient well-being in both outpatients and diagnostics despite challenges.

• There were governance processes embedded with action plans in progress to improve services.

• There were regular meetings, at all levels. Staff felt supported by their line managers and there was good team working in the departments.

• There were several innovations taking place with plans to increase services.

• There was a sharing of facilities that contributed to a lack of ownership for the department.

• The outpatient department was a space that is shared with other local community services during out of hour’s periods.

• There is some clinic and radiology activity, however; the main outpatient and radiology activity, took place at the Countess of Chester Hospital. As a result, we have reported our findings for the safe and well-led sections, however; not rated the service.

• Systems were in place for the maintenance of equipment.

• We observed that some aspects of outpatient rooms and medical equipment at Ellesmere Port hospital were shared with other organisations.

• The checking of resuscitation equipment at Ellesmere Port hospital and processes for managing the outpatients and x-ray departments were not robust.

• Patients’ records were maintained on paper ad via electronic systems, although; plans for changes in electronic systems were in place.

• There was a clear vision and strategy for the future.

• The management teams were stable and committed to patient well-being in both outpatients and diagnostics despite challenges.

• There were governance processes embedded with action plans in progress to improve services.

• There were regular meetings, at all levels. Staff felt supported by their line managers and there was good team working in the departments.

• There were several innovations taking place with plans to increase services.

• There was a sharing of facilities that contributed to a lack of ownership for the department.