Shaping the future of care: Inside the Women and Children’s Building

The new Women and Children’s Building at the Countess of Chester Hospital is the result of true collaboration and teamwork. From the very beginning, we worked closely with the Trust, listening to staff, patients and families to shape a space that works for everyone.

The result is a state of the art facility that sets a new standard for flexible and people-centred care, combining thoughtful design with the highest levels of comfort and clinical excellence.

Hear from the people who deliver care within the new building and discover how this project is helping to shape the future of maternity and neonatal services.

Designing with people at the centre

From the earliest stages, clinical teams were integral to shaping the design. Weekly site tours and feedback sessions gave staff a voice in how their new workplace would look and function. This level of engagement has helped to create an environment that staff feel proud of.

For families, the design places dignity and comfort at its heart. Spacious wards, natural light and welcoming interiors create a calm, uplifting atmosphere.

Every part of the building reflects what matters most to patients, families and staff:

• Family-centred spaces – Designed to keep families together, with thoughtful touches like “Christopher Beds” in every room to make long stays more comfortable.
• Shaped by care teams – The layout and flow were refined with direct input from clinical staff, ensuring spaces work the way care is delivered
• A supportive place to work – Every detail considers staff wellbeing, creating a calm, uplifting environment
• A welcoming, human design – Soft curves, natural light and open corridors replace traditional clinical layouts, helping the building feel more like home
• Ready for the future – Flexible spaces can adapt as services grow, supporting evolving models of care and community need

Delivering on a challenging site

Built at the heart of a busy hospital, the building had to balance ambition with sensitivity, ensuring care continued every step of the way. Following the natural curve of the surrounding road, the design moves away from traditional layouts to create softer, more welcoming spaces that feel calm, open and easy to navigate.

Close collaboration was key. Through regular engagement with staff, from design workshops to weekly site tours, the building was shaped by the people who use it most. Their insight helped create a facility that works seamlessly today and can grow with the hospital’s needs in the future.

What began as a complex site challenge became an opportunity to connect, to listen and to design a space that truly supports wellbeing.

Discover more by visiting our case study here

Part of a wider healthcare portfolio

The Countess of Chester project is part of our wider contribution to modernising the UK’s healthcare estate.

Some of our highlights include:

• Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital (SaTH), now known as the Hospitals Transformation Programme, will improve care for local people and enhance the patient experience
• The Princess Royal Hospital Day Case Elective Hub which will reimagine day patient care for local communities
• The Emily Siddon Building, as part of Huddersfield’s National Health Innovation Campus, is bridging health, education, innovation and community
• Cross Hands Community Health and Wellbeing Centre in Carmarthen will promote better health by bringing community and clinical services under one roof

Across all projects, our approach is consistent: listen carefully, collaborate deeply and design sensitively for both people and place.

If you’d like to discuss how our healthcare design expertise can support your next project, get in touch with our team to start the conversation.