Countess of Chester Hospital staff create their own children’s story book

Feb 4 2010 Chester Chronicle

THE Countess of Chester Hospital has gone to new lengths to engage with the public by producing a children’s book for young patients.

Building on the success of previous projects involving Facebook and Twitter, the award winning trust has developed Sam goes to hospital to communicate with children using the hospital.

The book was produced by a team comprising from the medical photography and illustration departments and the marketing and communications department.

The team was helped by 16-year-old Catherine Hanson, of Christleton High School. She produced the illustrations during a work experience placement.

Marketing and communications officer, Andrew Duggan, said: “We always try to engage effectively with the public however it is more difficult to communicate well with children and we want to ensure that we do this because they are as important as any other service user.”

The book features two real members of Countess staff in consultant paediatrician Dr Ravi Jayaram and staff nurse Karen Echlin.

Copies have been placed on the children’s ward and in children’s outpatients.