Deva
The Countess of Chester is the main NHS hospital for the Chester area with 625 beds. It was officially opened as such on 30th May, 1984, but the accident and emergency wards were open from 1983, and a hospital has existed on site since 1829. Initially it was a mental health unit, called the 'Lunatic Asylum Building'. The building's name continually changed during the 19th and early 20th centuries from Cheshire Lunatic Asylum, to Chester County Lunatic Asylum, County Mental Hospital, Upton Mental Hospital, Deva Hospital and finally West Cheshire Hospital.
As treatment for mental illness changed from imprisonment to medication and therapy, the hospital became less busy. Eventually, less than 5% of patients were forced to stay in hospital. In 1983, a new A&E department and general hospital unit opened on the site, which was then renamed Countess of Chester, in honour of one the Princess of Wales's more obscure titles. The naming ceremony was performed by the Prince and Princess of Wales, Charles and Diana. At the time, Chester had two other hospitals: Chester Royal Infirmary and Chester City Hospital. However, as the Countess grew, the other two hospitals became redundant, with the Royal Infirmary closing in 1993, and Chester City in 1994.
As treatment for mental illness changed from imprisonment to medication and therapy, the hospital became less busy. Eventually, less than 5% of patients were forced to stay in hospital. In 1983, a new A&E department and general hospital unit opened on the site, which was then renamed Countess of Chester, in honour of one the Princess of Wales's more obscure titles. The naming ceremony was performed by the Prince and Princess of Wales, Charles and Diana. At the time, Chester had two other hospitals: Chester Royal Infirmary and Chester City Hospital. However, as the Countess grew, the other two hospitals became redundant, with the Royal Infirmary closing in 1993, and Chester City in 1994.
