Alder Hey

Alder Hey Welcome to the Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust & Charity page.

Alder Hey in the Park cares for over 450,0000 young patients and their families each year. We lead research into children’s medicines, infection, inflammation and oncology.

🗣️ "Today, on , we’re sharing our son Toby’s story to help raise awareness of rare diseases.Toby, nine, has a condition...
28/02/2026

🗣️ "Today, on , we’re sharing our son Toby’s story to help raise awareness of rare diseases.

Toby, nine, has a condition called Addison’s disease, which affects up to just 10,000 people in the UK. For a long time, Toby had really varied unexplained symptoms-craving salty foods, struggling in cold weather, low energy, and difficulty keeping up at school. We made repeated visits to our GP in Warrington and underwent various tests, but everything came back normal. Still, we knew something wasn’t right. After returning from holiday, he caught a sickness bug he just couldn’t shake and said his body felt “like jelly.” He was admitted to our local A&E and later transferred to HDU at Alder Hey with dangerously low sodium levels, which can be life-threatening. It was terrifying as we waited for his sodium levels to be brought back up to a safe level. He was diagnosed with Addison’s disease, a rare lifelong condition where the adrenal glands don’t produce enough hormones to regulate energy, blood pressure and the body’s response to stress, requiring daily hormone replacement to prevent adrenal crisis.

As parents, we were shocked and overwhelmed. It took time to adjust to daily medication and the constant awareness of emergencies and we’re still learning. However, it has also been a relief to have an explanation and treatment for all his symptoms. The wise advice we received from the team at Alder Hey was a great comfort and their words have stayed with us. It’s reassuring to know expert help is close by whenever we need it.

Since starting treatment, Toby is a different child. His energy is back, he’s enjoying school again, and we’ve got our happy, cheeky boy back. He used to struggle to get to the finish line at Sports Day, but now says, “I love sport and want to be a basketball player when I’m older.”

We hope that by talking about the unusual signs - ongoing fatigue, dizziness, tummy pain, salt cravings, unexplained weight loss - more professionals, including teachers, school staff and healthcare providers, will recognise the symptoms sooner. It may help another person find the correct diagnosis and, ultimately, save someone’s life.” 🩵

| 12-year-old Evie-Rose was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) last July, a rare type of cancer, with around...
20/02/2026

| 12-year-old Evie-Rose was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) last July, a rare type of cancer, with around 3,100 people diagnosed with it each year in the UK.

This week, she was given the all-clear and rang the end-of-treatment bell with her family and the wonderful 3B staff in attendance 🎉

Paul, Evie-Rose’s dad, said: “The staff at Alder Hey have supported both Evie-Rose and our whole family in ways we will never be able to put into words fully. From the very beginning, when everything felt frightening and unknown, they treated not just her illness but cared for her as a person, always showing kindness, patience, and reassurance during the hardest moments of treatment. We will always be grateful for the role each of them played in helping Evie-Rose through treatment. They didn’t just care for her medically; they carried us emotionally through some of the most difficult moments of our lives.” 💙

Alder Hey is proud to announce a new partnership with Make-A-Wish UK, helping to bring life-changing wishes to children ...
19/02/2026

Alder Hey is proud to announce a new partnership with Make-A-Wish UK, helping to bring life-changing wishes to children and young people in our care.

We are now an official Community Referral Partner with Make-A-Wish UK, meaning we can now nominate children and young people for a wish.

This partnership, supported by Alder Hey Children’s Charity, gives a wonderful opportunity to help children with critical illnesses experience a wish that brings joy, hope, and lasting, positive memories for them and their families.

Make-A-Wish UK exists to grant life-changing wishes to critically ill children and their families when they need it the most. Whether it’s going on a family day out, getting a gaming console, or having a bedroom makeover, these experiences provide respite from treatment, allowing families to create treasured memories together, no matter what the future holds.

COMING SOON 🔜 | We’re pleased to share that we will soon be launching a new Patient Portal called Alder Connect! Alder C...
18/02/2026

COMING SOON 🔜 | We’re pleased to share that we will soon be launching a new Patient Portal called Alder Connect!

Alder Connect will provide a single, secure digital front door for families to manage and engage with aspects of their child’s care, gradually replacing traditional patient letters.

Designed specifically for children and young people, the portal will allow those with parental responsibility to access key information in one convenient place, rather than across multiple systems currently used.

Some families will get a text message inviting them to register for Alder Connect, so please keep an eye out for it and follow the instructions to get started.

18/02/2026

ICYMI | 9-year-old Alfie recently underwent a pioneering new leg-lengthening procedure – the first time this has been done in the UK 🇬🇧 Alfie hopes this procedure can help more people like him in the future 📺

Alder Hey have pioneered a new leg-lengthening procedure – the first time this has been done in the UK 🇬🇧Recently our li...
17/02/2026

Alder Hey have pioneered a new leg-lengthening procedure – the first time this has been done in the UK 🇬🇧

Recently our limb reconstruction team carried out a pioneering new leg-lengthening procedure. It was a huge moment for Alder Hey and an exciting milestone, as 9-year old Alfie, from Northampton, became the first child in the UK to receive this treatment, paving the way for many more children with this condition.

Alfie was born with fibular hemimelia, a condition that meant one of his legs was shorter than the other. When Alfie was seen at Alder Hey in early 2024, he had a 4cm difference in leg length, which was estimated to reach 6cm by the time he was fully grown. As he grew, this made everyday things like walking, running and playing sports more difficult and uncomfortable. After careful discussions and planning with Alfie and his family, the decision was made to proceed with a new type of leg-lengthening surgery known as extramedullary femoral lengthening.

This new procedure isn’t suitable for everyone, but unlike traditional methods that rely on external frames on the outside of the leg, this technique uses a motorised telescopic nail placed on the outside of the bone but inside the leg. Slowly and gently, the bone is encouraged to grow, around 1mm a day, allowing new bone to form naturally. This makes it less painful, lower risk, with fewer scars and a much more comfortable recovery. Alfie’s progress has been nothing short of amazing. The morning after surgery he was already up and about with a Zimmer frame, he was home after four nights, off pain relief within a week, and has since gained 3cm in leg length.

Mr Nick Peterson, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, who led the procedure, said: “Extramedullary lengthening will transform how we can treat and care for younger children who need femoral lengthening procedures. We’re really proud to have brought this procedure to the UK which has helped other centres begin offering the same life-changing treatment across the country, meaning many more children will benefit in the future. A huge thank you to everyone involved in Alfie’s journey - our orthopaedic theatre team, specialist nurses, physiotherapists, my consultant colleagues and all the staff behind the scenes. Most importantly thanks must go to Alfie and his parents for trusting us with his care. This truly was a team effort.”

Alfie said: “I’m really happy with my results and really proud of myself that I was the first in the UK. Hopefully, this can help other kids like me.” 💙

Happy ! ❤️ We're taking this opportunity to show our love for all of our amazing people who make Alder Hey what it is. ...
14/02/2026

Happy ! ❤️

We're taking this opportunity to show our love for all of our amazing people who make Alder Hey what it is. Thank you for your ongoing care and dedication to improving the lives of our children and young people.

Want to show some love to someone at Alder Hey? Leave a message in the comments! ⬇️

Arts for Health shortlisted for regional award and we need your vote!Arts for Health, funded by Alder Hey Children's Cha...
10/02/2026

Arts for Health shortlisted for regional award and we need your vote!

Arts for Health, funded by Alder Hey Children's Charity, supports more than 11,000 children and young people each year, delivering a wide-ranging programme of patient-led creative activity.

The programme has proven benefits for health and wellbeing and is inspired by patients, with regular visits from artists, storytellers, musicians, animators, performers, and dancers to entertain children, encourage their creativity, and support their recovery and morale. The programme also includes research exploring the role of creative arts in wellbeing and recovery.

The People’s Choice Award is decided by a public vote, so if you would like to help, please vote using the link below.

Award winners will be announced at the Liverpool City Region Culture and Creativity Awards ceremony, which celebrates individuals and organisations making a positive difference through culture and creativity across the region.

Vote below. Good luck to the team! 🍀

| Alder Hey has received two awards 🏆🏆 at the RHS North West in Bloom Awards, winning a Gold Award in the hospital cat...
06/02/2026

| Alder Hey has received two awards 🏆🏆 at the RHS North West in Bloom Awards, winning a Gold Award in the hospital category and the Jolly Josh Inclusive Greenspace Award.

North West in Bloom is the regional body responsible for delivering the RHS Britain in Bloom competition across Lancashire, Cheshire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside. It is one of 18 regions and nations that make up Britain in bloom. The awards, held at the end of last year, were formally presented to Alder Hey Chair Dame Jo Williams by the Lord Mayor of Rochdale, Councillor Janet Emsley, and the Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Councillor Barbara Murray.

The awards recognise our commitment to greenspace, inclusivity, and accessibility at our Children’s Health Campus, which includes Alder Hey in the Park (our hospital), the Institute in the Park, the Catkin Centre, Sunflower House and Alder Centre 🌻🌷🌼

| 4 month old Eden thriving after life saving surgery at Alder Hey 👶 Eden was diagnosed with Congenital Pulmonary Airw...
30/01/2026

| 4 month old Eden thriving after life saving surgery at Alder Hey 👶

Eden was diagnosed with Congenital Pulmonary Airway Malformation (CPAM) at 32 weeks into his mum Hayley’s pregnancy, a rare condition that affects how a baby’s lungs develop before birth and can make breathing difficult after delivery.

In September 2025, at just 13 days old, Eden became really unwell. He was rushed to Alder Hey, where a CT scan showed that Eden’s left lung and heart had been pushed across his chest by a cyst. Emergency surgery was needed to remove the cyst and the lower right lobe of his lung, with the successful operation taking over six hours 🏥 After 72 hours in the intensive care unit, he was weaned off breathing support but had difficulty with his lung healing, suffering a collapsed lung 4 times.

However, after 3 weeks in Alder Hey, Eden was discharged home in October 2025. Now 4 months old, he has recovered well and is now healthy and thriving. His lung has already started growing back and he has enjoyed spending quality time with his grandparents and loves giggling away with grandad. Eden’s mum, Hayley, said: “I just want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart that you saved my little boy and we are starting 2026 with a healthy, giggling boy.” 😄

Professor Ian Sinha, Alder Hey consultant respiratory paediatrician, said: “As respiratory paediatricians, we meet parents of babies born with lung malformations, and they’re understandably worried. We’re lucky to work in a place where we can honestly tell them they are in the best place and in the safe hands of some of the best paediatric thoracic surgeons in the world. Mr Roland Partridge and his team did a wonderful job with little Eden, and it’s a privilege to work with them.” 🫶

Our new Surgical NICU, due to open in 2026, will benefit families just like Eden’s. Newborn babies and their families will be cared for by specialist staff, including consultant neonatologists, consultant neonatal surgeons, advanced nurse practitioners and specialist neonatal nurses. The brand-new state-of-the-art unit will be the first of its kind in the country, providing family integrated care and a safer service for babies. It will feature 22 neonatal cots and 18 individual family rooms, where parents can also stay alongside their poorly babies whilst they receive expert care. 💙

29/01/2026

⚠️ | We're currently seeing a large number of children & young people coming to our A&E. Sometimes, a trip to A&E isn't necessary, and can result in long wait times 🕐 You can use NHS 111 or our Symptom Checker to find the most appropriate service for you: https://www.alderhey.nhs.uk/conditions/symptoms-checker/

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26/01/2026

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Address

Liverpool
L122AP

Telephone

+441512284811

Website

http://www.alderheycharity.org/

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Our Story

Since the NHS was established, Alder Hey has seen many changes, but has remained at the forefront of children’s healthcare.

Alder Hey was originally a workhouse, providing care for the sick. A hospital was built and opened its doors in October 1914, with 350 children taking occupancy of twelve wards. Alder Hey was also used as a military hospital during the Great War and Second World War.

During our history, we have become known for a number of famous firsts. Penicillin was tested on a child for the first time at Alder Hey and we were the first to establish a neonatal surgical unit in the UK. Other firsts include curing the most commonly encountered congenital heart defect and pioneering various splints and orthopaedic appliances.

In 2015, we opened a state-of-the-art hospital alongside a brand new research, innovation and education centre. Alder Hey in the Park and the Institute in the Park now cares for over 330,000 children, young people and their families every year and brings together excellent care, technology and design to provide the best possible healing environment for children and their families.