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.

We hosted a very special cinema screening of this year’s Grand National for 5-year-old Oliver and his family and friends...
11/04/2026

We hosted a very special cinema screening of this year’s Grand National for 5-year-old Oliver and his family and friends, where he cheered on his favourite horse, I Am Maximus, to victory!

Oliver was recently named the 35th runner at this year’s Randox Grand National, an initiative which celebrates Alder Hey’s and Alder Hey Children’s Charity’s long-standing relationship with The Jockey Club.

Five-year-old Oliver, who lives with a life-limiting condition, congenital heart disease, with his main condition, Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, has undergone five open heart surgeries, and he underwent his fifth open heart surgery in March.

Unfortunately, Oliver is not well enough to attend the Grand National event as a guest of honour, so instead Alder Hey and The Jockey Club arranged for him and some of his close friends and family to watch it at Alder Hey’s MediCinema –the first time this has happened.

The Jockey Club also sent personalised racecards to the hospital bearing the words "Oliver Christie's Grand National Party," and the Racing Post is sending cupcakes with the silks of each runner on top.

Mum Amelia said: "I just want to say thank you to everyone who has helped make this happen. It has been a brilliant day, and it was made even better by Oliver's favourite horse, I Am Maximus, who won too!

Today we were delighted to welcome back the beautiful and former winner Neptune Collonges to Alder Hey, alongside some...
10/04/2026

Today we were delighted to welcome back the beautiful and former winner Neptune Collonges to Alder Hey, alongside some of the jockeys set to ride in tomorrow’s big race at 🏇

Children and young people, families and staff loved the chance to meet the horse, before the jockeys headed up to the wards to spread smiles, share stories and hand out gifts 🎁

This special visit has become a much-loved annual tradition, made possible by the fantastic partnership between and Alder Hey Children’s Charity, celebrating 25 years together this year.

Oliver Christie, who this year will be the Jockey Club's honorary 35th runner of this year's Grand National, also got the chance to meet Neptune. Oliver has undergone five open heart surgeries at Alder Hey, and he is currently an Alder Hey outpatient after he underwent his fifth open heart surgery operation on March 9th, before being discharged last week.

On Saturday, Oliver will be joined by 21 friends and family to watch the Grand National at Alder Hey's amazing MediCinema.

A huge thank you to everyone who took time out of their day to visit and help create such memorable moments 💙

Good luck to Romily and Harriet, who are preparing to take the world stage by competing in the All-Star Cheerleading Wor...
08/04/2026

Good luck to Romily and Harriet, who are preparing to take the world stage by competing in the All-Star Cheerleading World Championships in Orlando next week!

A remarkable achievement for anyone, but made all the more so by the fact that, just a few years ago, both were facing significant health challenges.

When Romily (pictured left) was four, she was diagnosed with hip dysplasia, a condition in which the hip socket is too shallow to fully support the top of the thigh bone, leading to instability or dislocation. She began treatment at Alder Hey and underwent major surgery in November 2019 to rebuild her hip.

Following her operation, Romily spent over a week in hospital, was bed-bound for two months, and then relied on a wheelchair as she began intensive physiotherapy and slowly learnt to walk again.

Harriet’s journey has been different, but equally challenging. She was diagnosed with Behçet’s Syndrome at the age of seven. Behçet’s Syndrome a condition that causes inflammation in the body, including arthritis, leading to joint pain and stiffness among other symptoms.

She attends Alder Hey’s Medical Day Unit weekly for treatment, having started methotrexate injections in July 2025, and is now preparing to begin adalimumab.

Despite everything they have faced, both girls have found strength, confidence and joy through cheerleading. 🤩

Romily and Harriet are part of the Start Spirit Cheer and Dance, where they have developed their skills and built strong friendships. Romily and Harriet both compete with Poison Ivy International Under 14 Level 1 and Anarchy International U14 Level 2, and Harriet also dances in U14 Jazz and Lyrical and has trained with the club since the age of seven. 🌟

Last year, their team earned a place at next week's Cheerleading World Championships, a prestigious international competition held annually in Orlando, Florida, where only teams awarded a bid through competition can compete.

Well done to both Romily and Harriet, you are both amazing and good luck in Orlando!

From all of us at Alder Hey, wishing our staff, children, young people and their families a very happy Easter 🐣🌸
05/04/2026

From all of us at Alder Hey, wishing our staff, children, young people and their families a very happy Easter 🐣🌸

On your marks…! Get set…Go!Alder Hey’s oncology ward is set to take on a BIG challenge. They are to virtually travel fro...
02/04/2026

On your marks…! Get set…Go!

Alder Hey’s oncology ward is set to take on a BIG challenge. They are to virtually travel from Alder Hey to Mexico City in time for the start of the FIFA World Cup. ⚽

Staff and children on the ward will walk, dance, swim or bike a massive 8,690 kilometres – the distance from Alder Hey to Mexico City, which is the venue for the first World Cup game of Mexico vs South Africa on 11th June

The challenge has been designed to encourage movement in a way that is accessible to all. A ‘movement menu’ will allow staff, children and young people on the ward to contribute through a range of activities suited to their abilities, ensuring that everyone can play a part in the shared goal.

Progress will be tracked visually across the ward using maps and leaderboards, helping participants see how far they have travelled together.

Alongside the distance challenge, the team is turning the ward into a hub of fun and activity. From writing postcards to favourite footballers to setting up a mini goal for friendly kickabouts between staff and patients, there’ll be plenty of ways to get involved, stay active and share a few smiles along the way.

The overall aim is to create a positive, active atmosphere that supports recovery and lifts spirits.

The challenge starts on 13th April and runs till 11th June. Good luck! ⭐

27/03/2026

| Watch the lovely moment when 5-year-old Oliver walks outside for the first time in weeks after having his fifth open-heart surgery!

Oliver has been treated at Alder Hey since he was born and has been receiving treatment for a congenital defect on the left side of his heart. He also lives with cerebral palsy, which relates to a group of lifelong conditions that affect movement and co-ordination.

Oliver was recovering in our cardiac ward after having his fifth open-heart surgery and hadn’t been outside in weeks.

He saw another little girl playing outside the hospital in the sunshine earlier this month and told his mum he wanted to go outside.

Oliver’s mum Amelia, said: “Alder Hey is such a friendly place, Oliver enjoys seeing all his friends, the nurses and waves morning and goodnight to everyone as they pass his room. The care is exceptional and makes parents feel at ease.”

Oliver was also recently named as the honorary 35th runner in the upcoming 2026 Randox Grand National. An honorary runner has taken a place in the iconic contest since 2017, with their name appearing in the racecard alongside the horses lining up in the race. The initiative highlights the work of Alder Hey and the longstanding partnership with Alder Hey Children’s Charity and Aintree Racecourse, stretching back 25 years.

🗣️ For Epilepsy Awareness Day (Purple Day), Marie shares the journey of her daughter Amelia, who lives with complex epil...
26/03/2026

🗣️ For Epilepsy Awareness Day (Purple Day), Marie shares the journey of her daughter Amelia, who lives with complex epilepsy caused by a rare genetic condition.

"When Amelia was four years old, seizures suddenly became part of our everyday life. Amelia is now 10 years old. After her first non-febrile seizures she was quickly diagnosed with a generalised seizure disorder, and further genetic testing later confirmed KCNB1-related developmental epileptic encephalopathy, a rare genetic condition that affects brain development and causes complex epilepsy.

Over the years, Amelia has experienced multiple seizure types including tonic, tonic-clonic, focal, absence and myoclonic seizures. Finding the right treatment has been a long journey. She has tried many anti-epileptic medications, but both the seizures and the medications themselves have had a significant impact. During this time, Amelia experienced considerable regression and lost skills such as clapping, waving and using cutlery.

When medications alone were not enough, Amelia started the ketogenic diet, which helped reduce her seizure burden. We did not get the dream outcome of seizure freedom, but it did make a meaningful difference. Later, Amelia had a Vagus Nerve Stimulator (VNS) implanted. This again reduced the number of seizures she was experiencing, but did not stop them completely.

After two years, Amelia came off the ketogenic diet. It had helped to a point and we were able to maintain some of the benefits it had brought. As Amelia entered puberty, we began to see a clear pattern emerging, with periods of increased seizures followed by weeks with none. Puberty blockers were introduced in an attempt to help stabilise this cycle, although seizures still break through.

Currently Amelia takes four anti-epileptic medications, which bring their own challenges including fatigue, unsteadiness on her feet, excessive sleep and cognitive side effects. Our teams at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital and Whiston Hospital continue to work closely together to try to find the right balance between seizure control and Amelia’s quality of life.

Epilepsy impacts every minute of every day for our family. Amelia needs an adult with her at all times, including through the night, as we must be ready to use her VNS magnet during seizures, and she remains at high risk of SUDEP.

Despite everything epilepsy has thrown at Amelia, she continues to fight in her own quiet way.
We still face many uncertain moments and an unknown future. Drug-resistant epilepsy is complex and, for many families, it is a lifelong battle.

During the weeks when her seizures settle, she is full of life and determination. And after six years, she is now learning to use cutlery again — slowly reclaiming a skill epilepsy once took away. She is also beginning to find her voice again, discovering new ways to express herself and connect with the world around her. After everything epilepsy has taken from Amelia, these moments matter more than words can describe.

Progress with complex epilepsy is often slow, fragile and hard-won. It can take years of therapies, support and relentless work to gain skills — yet those same skills can sometimes be lost overnight.
That is the reality many families live with. Epilepsy remains a constant presence in Amelia’s life, and in ours, requiring vigilance, care and support every single day.

For Epilepsy Awareness Week, we are sharing Amelia’s story to help people better understand the realities of complex epilepsy and the importance of specialist care, continued research and greater awareness. Because behind every diagnosis like ours is a child like Amelia, working hard every day to have a better quality of life." 💜

20/03/2026

ICYMI - Alder Hey’s very own Julia Roberts was paid a visit at work by Everton Football Club captain Seamus Coleman recently and you can watch the special moment below ⬇️

Julia, a clinical manager on our Integrated Community Nursing team, was nominated by her daughter, Beth, for a once-in-a-lifetime experience after overcoming a series of personal challenges in recent years. In 2023, Julia faced a life-threatening medical emergency when her bowel suddenly failed, requiring major surgery that ultimately saved her life. She came through the ordeal with extraordinary strength and resilience, returning to Alder Hey in 2024 💪

After keeping Julia occupied for 50 minutes in a pretend meeting, Everton and Hill Dickinson surprised her at work with Everton captain Seamus Coleman, who presented her with flowers, tickets to Everton vs Burnley, and a behind-the-scenes trip to Everton’s training ground, Finch Farm 🔵

Julia said: “I have never felt more special than this. Can't thank Beth and Everton enough for such an amazing experience. And also, my ICCNT team and Communications for making this happen.” 💙

Julia enjoyed a VIP experience at the Hil Dickinson stadium alongside her husband Gary, daughter Beth and son Tom – Everton also won 2-0! ⚽

Well done Julia, very well deserved! 👏

To prepare for the launch of Alder Connect – our new patient portal, many families will receive a text message this week...
16/03/2026

To prepare for the launch of Alder Connect – our new patient portal, many families will receive a text message this week inviting them to pre-register.

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.

Alder Connect has been designed specifically for children and young people and will allow those with parental responsibility to access key information in one place, rather than across multiple systems currently used by Alder Hey.

It will officially go live next month, so no information will be available to view just yet. However, we encourage families to pre-register now when contacted, so their accounts are ready when the service launches.

Once live and over time, families will be able to view appointment letters, access test results, and see important health information, such as allergy records.

Please keep an eye out for the text message and follow the instructions to pre-register.

Happy Mother’s Day! 💖 Today, we celebrate all those remarkable mums out there. We hope you have an amazing day 💐💙
15/03/2026

Happy Mother’s Day! 💖

Today, we celebrate all those remarkable mums out there. We hope you have an amazing day 💐💙

For three-quarters of a century, amazing cardiac teams in Liverpool have cared for children with heart conditions, perfo...
13/03/2026

For three-quarters of a century, amazing cardiac teams in Liverpool have cared for children with heart conditions, performed lifesaving surgery, and supported families every step of the way 💕

Behind every operation is a dedicated team of surgeons, anaesthetists, cardiologists, intensivists, nurses, theatre staff, perfusionists, physiotherapists, pathway coordinators, admin teams and so many more.

Generations of these professionals have helped build the world-class service we have today at Alder Hey, where we perform, on average, over 400 cardiac operations each year, mending broken hearts.

Mr Ram Dhannapuneni, Head of Cardiac Surgery at Alder Hey, says: “The skill, dedication and compassion of the teams I work with every day is truly remarkable. It’s a privilege to care for our children and families, they never give up hope, and neither do we.”

A huge thank you to everyone, past and present, who has played a part in caring for children with heart conditions in Liverpool and beyond 💙

Were you, a family member, or a friend cared for by our cardiac team? Or have you been part of the team over the years? We’d love to hear your stories in the comments! 👇

Meet three families and heart heroes 🫶 whose lives have been changed by heart surgery in Liverpool ❤️42 year old Colin a...
13/03/2026

Meet three families and heart heroes 🫶 whose lives have been changed by heart surgery in Liverpool ❤️

42 year old Colin and seven year old daughter Edith’s hearts were touched by the same surgeon, Mr Ram Dhannapuneni. Colin said “I was born with a chronic heart disease known as Shone's Syndrome and had surgery as a baby in Myrtle Street in 1983 and incredibly I didn’t need any further interventions for 36 years. In 2018, our daughter Edith was born with very severe Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. A few days old, she had her first operation and at just a few months old she had her next led by Ram and featured on BBC Hospital. She has had several interventions since and is my inspiration. She continues to receive excellent care from the wonderful Dr Caroline Jones and colleagues in Cardiology, Ward 1C, and when needed, ICU and HDU. In 2020, I needed another operation, after my heart began to struggle and this was also performed by Ram but at Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital- I was very excited when I found out it! As for Ram, I feel privileged that I can shake hands with a surgeon who has quite literally touched both mine and my daughter's hearts. As a family, we couldn't be more thankful for everything that the city's history of cardiac treatment has given us, from Myrtle Street in the early 1980s to Alder Hey and LHCH today.” ❤️

19-year-old Theo from Northwich, has Down's Syndrome and was diagnosed with a heart condition called Atrioventricular Septal Defect when born. Despite several heart repairs, his first in Alder Hey in 2007 and his most recent in LHCH in 2025, he never lets it stop him from doing anything. Mum Helen said: “We’re so proud of Theo, he is inspiring, and so stoical and accepting of his condition. He recently won a Community Award for volunteering and is about to go on his Silver Duke of Edinburgh. He is an incredible dancer and has performed at festivals and hopes to go to college to study performing arts 🎭 He has a Saturday job and loves spending time with his family and girlfriend. I feel grateful every day that Theo’s heart has been fixed so many times. It is humbling to think that many years ago, people with Down's Syndrome weren’t offered this kind of life-saving operation so we are very lucky to have lived in this time where his life is considered valuable and Theo truly is of value to his community as a result.” 💙

Millie from Southport is six months old and was diagnosed with (TGA) Transposition of the great arteries, a large hole in between the ventricles (VSD) and mesocardia whilst still in her mummy’s tummy. At 2 weeks old Millie had her first open heart surgery at Alder Hey and has since had three more. Her last surgery was seriously high-risk due to the unusual positioning of Millie’s heart. Mum Ella said: “To all our amazement, the cardiac surgical team managed to mend Millie’s broken heart and she is getting stronger every day 💪 We are beyond grateful and thankful to the Alder Hey team and feel completely blessed to have met such wonderful people. It has been an overwhelmingly difficult journey at times, as we also had three other children to care for at home. There were some dark times, made brighter by some lovely people. A thank you will never be enough to the people who gave our baby a future.” 👶

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.