Countess of Chester Hospital

The new Women and Children’s Building at the Countess of Chester Hospital will provide greater opportunities for integrated family care within a modern building, enhancing the experience for patients and families. The £7.5m development will see other services from different areas of the hospital moved into the new building. These include outpatient and inpatient capacity for maternity and children’s services, and a bespoke unit for women’s gynaecology.

A joint venture between VINCI Building and Sir Robert McAlpine will deliver the mechanical, electrical, and public health services on this new development. Dalkia secured the construction contract will which include a new facility for maternity, neonatal, paediatric and gynaecology services, including a full delivery suite for 11 births, equipped with two obstetric theatres, a maternity ward comprising 24 single occupancy bedrooms designed for accessibility, a neonatal unit with capacity for 16 cots, and a modern children’s ward complete with access to overnight accommodation for patients and their families.

As part of the new building Peter Marshall Steel Stairs will supply a five fight feature stair structure which incorporates a 315 degree landing. The stairs width is 1.5m with a total rise of 7950mm. We are also supplying rectangular hollow stair (RHS) stringers of different sizes for this project, as well as balustrades mountings.

During the development of the site, a group of students for local schools were invited for a week of work experience at the hospital, giving them insight into the world of healthcare. They were also given a tour of the new facilities and were able to attend several workshops and presentations about different careers, which will hopefully inspire many to consider a role in the NHS in the future.

The new three storey building is aiming to achieve an BREEAM Excellent rating and provide high quality care but also modern and comfortable facilities for patients and visitors. The new building will transform the provision of urgent and emergency care, reduce waiting times and help the hospital achieve long term change for its patients.