It was one of the first hospitals to implement PACS, a system to digitally store and view x-ray images, which allows doctors to see results much sooner and dramatically reduces patient waiting times as well as saving on film and administration costs.

It has also introduced Countess RemindMe, a free text message alert designed to remind participating patients of pending appointments and reduce missed appointments, and it is piloting self-service touch-screens to reduce check-in waits.

The hospital has a highly integrated patient care system, moving towards a complete electronic record at the hospital, and linking in with GP and community systems.

Phil Davies, director of IM&T, said: "We are delighted to have reached the final of the Acute Care ICT Team of the Year. It is recognition of the amazing work done at the Countess every day to maximise the use of new technology within the hospital to improve patient care and drive down waiting times."

Patients referred to the Countess of Chester Hospital are seeing the benefits of the Trust's commitment to provide services much quicker than the current mandatory targets. A key objective for the NHS is to deliver an 18 week patient pathway from GP referral to the start of treatment by the end of 2008, but the Countess is working with the local Primary Care Trust, towards implementing these targets 12 months ahead of most other hospitals in the country. An integral part of this process is the use of new technology across the Trust.

Representatives of the IM&T (Information Management & Technology) Team will be attending the awards ceremony on November 7 at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts in London W1. The winners will be announced on the night.