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Alder Hey Children's Hospital

Coordinates: 53°25′14″N 2°53′48″W / 53.42053°N 2.89677°W / 53.42053; -2.89677
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Alder Hey Children's Hospital
Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust
The main entrance to the new hospital on East Prescot Road
Alder Hey Children's Hospital is located in Merseyside
Alder Hey Children's Hospital
Location in Merseyside
Geography
LocationLiverpool, England
Coordinates53°25′14″N 2°53′48″W / 53.42053°N 2.89677°W / 53.42053; -2.89677
Organisation
Care systemNHS
TypeSpecialist
Affiliated universityUniversity of Liverpool
Liverpool John Moores University
Services
Emergency departmentYes – Major Trauma Centre
Beds309[1]
SpecialityChildren's hospital
History
Opened1914; 110 years ago (1914)
Links
Websitewww.alderhey.nhs.uk, www.alderheycharity.org

Alder Hey Children's Hospital is a children's hospital and NHS foundation trust in West Derby, Liverpool, England. It is one of the largest children's hospitals in the United Kingdom, and one of several specialist hospitals within the Liverpool City Region, alongside the Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool Women's Hospital, Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital, the Walton Centre, Mersey Regional Burns and Plastic Surgery Unit, and Clatterbridge Cancer Centre.

History

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A view of the old hospital on Eaton Road

Early history

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The site was previously occupied by a mansion known as Alder Hey which the local poor law guardians acquired for use as a children's home in 1910.[2] The mansion was converted for use as a military hospital in 1914.[3] During the First World War, the United States Army established Camp Hospital 40 on the site, operated by Hospital Unit Q and, subsequently, Unit W. American sources commonly refer to Alder Hey as being within Liverpool's Knotty Ash area.[4]

During the Second World War, parts of the hospital were again used to treat injured military personnel.[5] The Liverpool Neonatal Surgical Unit opened at the hospital in 1953.[6] This unit was the first neonatal intensive care unit in the United Kingdom.[5] The opening was largely due to the efforts of Isabella Forshall, a paediatric surgeon.[6]

In 1990 when Myrtle Street Children's Hospital (founded in 1869 and previously known as Royal Liverpool Children's Hospital) closed, Alder Hey absorbed its A&E department.[7] The hospital authority was one of 57 such bodies which became an NHS hospital trust in 1991.[8] Ronald McDonald House, a home for the families of sick children, opened in 1993.[5]

In 1999 an inquiry was instituted into the Alder Hey organs scandal and to investigate the hospital's practices in respect of removal and retention of human tissue.[9] The inquiry had far-reaching effects throughout the UK hospital system and provided the impetus for the Human Tissue Act 2004.[10][11]

In August 2008 the Royal Liverpool Children's NHS Trust became an NHS foundation trust and changed its name to Alder Hey NHS Foundation Trust.[12] Between 2010 and 2014 the number of doctors employed at the trust increased from 269 to 344, while the number of managers increased from 70 to 86.[13] At the end of March 2017, the trust was confirmed as one of four additional NHS Global Digital Exemplars, joining the twelve announced in September 2016.[14]

Redevelopment

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The new hospital under construction
Side view of the US Army camp hospital in 1919 showing operating room on the right

Alder Hey had its centenary year in 2014, the last year in which it operated from the buildings on its original site. A new hospital was procured under Private Finance Initiative contract in neighbouring Springfield Park. The works, which were carried out by Laing O'Rourke at a cost of £187 million,[15] began on 26 March 2013 and the hospital opened in October 2015.[16] It was Europe's first children's hospital built in a park.[17] The original Alder Hey buildings were mostly demolished and the land was reclaimed as new parkland for the surrounding community.[18]

Features of the new hospital include access to play areas, natural light and striking views of the park are available wherever possible[19] Children and young people were involved with the design of the new hospital. A drawing of a flower by teenage patient Eleanor Brogan impressed architects and inspired their final design.[20]

Facilities

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The hospital is a centre of excellence for oncology and muscular dystrophy as well as spinal, heart and brain conditions. It was also the first UK Centre of Excellence for Childhood Lupus and is:[21]

Alder Hey has Europe's first 3T Intraoperative MRI scanner which is a pioneering technology for neurosurgery, providing surgeons with extremely high resolution images and reducing the need for repeat operations in 90% of cases.[21] It currently employs about 2,400 staff and treats over 270,000 children from across the UK each year.[21]

Research and development

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Alder Hey conducts paediatric research into children's medicines, infection, inflammation and oncology. It has research partners including the University of Liverpool and is a member of Liverpool Health Partners.[22] Alder Hey conducts more than 100 clinical research studies on an ongoing basis, ranging from observation to clinical trials. The hospital is within the National Institute for Health and Care Research's Top 100 Performing Trust's for participation recruitment in 2013/14.[23][24] Alder Hey was a finalist in the Clinical Research Impact category of the 2013 HSJ Awards[25] and in 2014 the innovation team received the Health Service Journal Award for improving health care with technology.[26]

In 2016 the first phase of a bespoke research, education and innovation centre, Institute in the Park, opened next to Alder Hey in the Park.[27] In November 2015, the institute hosted a children's health Hackathon in conjunction with Massachusetts Institute of Technology.[28]

Notable firsts

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Alder Hey was the first hospital to:

Charitable work

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Alder Hey Children's Charity

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Alder Hey Children's Charity supports the work of the hospital. In addition to NHS funding which covers the running costs of the hospital, Alder Hey relies on charitable support. Funds are spent directly on initiatives in the hospital to benefit patients. It funds research initiatives, patient and family enhancements and state of the art medical equipment. Known as the 'Imagine Appeal' until 2012, Alder Hey Children's Charity is based within the hospital. On 14 October 2013 the charity launched a public appeal to raise £30m to fund equipment, facilities and research at Alder Hey's new hospital, Alder Hey in the Park.[34][35] In October 2015 the charity announced over £20m had been raised.[36]

Alder Hey has numerous notable supporters, including Yoko Ono as Honorary Patron, Steven Gerrard as Appeal Founding Partner and Patrons including:[37]

In 2009 charitable support allowed Alder Hey to buy Europe's first 3T intraoperative MRI scanner.[38] In one charitably funded project, the sound recordist and musician Chris Watson was employed to devise an art project, using bird song recordings made by children to calm other young patients as they received injections and other treatments.[39][40]

Art For Their Sake

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In 1978, the charity Art For Their Sake, a team of volunteer artists led by founder George Nicholas (now of Ormskirk, England), produced the world's longest mural in the corridors of Alder Hey Children's Hospital. A Guinness Record was set with a total of 17,963 square feet of murals, and awarded to the hospital in 1986. Nicholas and his team continued to work on these murals for a period of 30 years, adding to as well as restoring and maintaining, for a total of over 34,000 square feet.[41][42]

Arts for Health

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Alder Hey runs an Arts for Health programme,[43] funded entirely through charitable sources including Alder Hey Children's Charity. The programme aims to enhance the experience of being a patient and includes animation projects, music and dance therapy, creative writing, comedy workshops and storytelling.[44]

International Child Health Development Programme

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An international child health development programme led by Alder Hey clinicians focuses on humanitarian work in developing countries. The programme includes provision of immediate medical support, knowledge sharing and involvement with international clinical trials. The programme has undertaken work across Africa and Asia, including Pakistan, Malawi, Nepal and India.[45]

TV appearances

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During the 1990s, Alder Hey was featured in the BBC television series Children's Hospital.[46]

In 2011, chef Heston Blumenthal took to the challenge of changing the dinner menu of Alder Hey Children's Hospital on his televised show, Heston's Mission Impossible.[47]

Since September 2012, Alder Hey has regularly featured on the CBBC television series Operation Ouch!.[48]

Performance

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In October 2013, the Care Quality Commission's Intelligent Monitoring system placed Alder Hey in category one, meaning it would be amongst the first hospitals to be inspected under a new style of inspection.[49][50]

In May 2014, Alder Hey was inspected by the Care Quality Commission and was given the overall rating Requires Improvement.[51]

In June 2015, Alder Hey was re-inspected by the Care Quality Commission and was given the overall rating Good, and was rated Outstanding in the Caring category.[52]

Another inspection took place in 2018, the overall rating was unchanged.[53]

Management

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Dame Josephine Williams was appointed Chair of the Trust Board in February 2019.[54] Louise Shepherd CBE was appointed Chief Executive of the trust in March 2008.[55]

Honorary Freedom of the Borough

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On 26 January 2023, the Alder Hey Children's Hospital NHS Foundation Trust was granted the Honorary Freedom of the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton.[56]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust". NHS Choices. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  2. ^ Massie, Bert (2019). A Life Without Limits Disability Rights Activist and Advocate. Mereo Books. p. 8. ISBN 978-1861519054.
  3. ^ "A History of Alder Hey Hospital". Merseyside at War. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
  4. ^ Van Ells, Mark (2015). America and World War I. Northampton, Massachusetts: Interlink Publishing. p. 101. ISBN 9781623710675.
  5. ^ a b c Taylor, Joshua. "The history of Alder Hey Children's Hospital from 1910 to 2015". Liverpool Echo. Archived from the original on 8 June 2019. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  6. ^ a b R, J (6 January 1990). "Obituary: Isabella Forshall ChM, FRCS, FRCSEd". The BMJ. 300 (6716): 41–43. doi:10.1136/bmj.300.6716.41. ISSN 0959-8138. PMC 1661896.
  7. ^ Barlow, Eleanor (6 January 2015). "Myrtle Street Children's Hospital staff to hold reunion on 25th anniversary of closure". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  8. ^ "The NHS in the 1990s". NHS Choices. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  9. ^ "The Report of The Royal Liverpool Children's Inquiry". Archived from the original on 2 December 2011.
  10. ^ "Summary and Background - Human Tissue Act 2004". legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
  11. ^ "Alder Hey report 'harmed science'". BBC News. 5 October 2004.
  12. ^ "Foundation Trust – Becoming a member". alderhey.nhs.uk. Archived from the original on 15 October 2014.
  13. ^ "More doctors and fewer managers at Merseyside hospitals, new figures show". Liverpool Echo. 7 March 2015. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
  14. ^ Stevens, Laura (31 March 2017). "Four more acute global digital exemplars confirmed by NHS England". Digital Health. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  15. ^ "The Pacemaker: Inside Laing O'Rourke's fastest ever hospital". Construction News. 11 December 2014. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  16. ^ Press Releases (1 October 2015). "Alder Hey in the Park Designed By Children For Children". Alderhey.nhs.uk. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  17. ^ Baillie, J (September 2015). "Europe's first children's hospital in a park". Health Estate. 69 (8): 33–8. PMID 26548125.
  18. ^ Smedley, Tim (14 January 2013). "Alder Hey pushes the boundaries of hospital design". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
  19. ^ "The new Alder Hey Children's Hospital on healthcare in europe". www.healthcare-in-europe.com. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
  20. ^ Taylor, Joshua (1 October 2015). "Former patient's flower drawing inspired new Alder Hey hospital design". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
  21. ^ a b c "Alder Hey in the Park | Alder Hey Children's Hospital: About Us". Alderhey.nhs.uk. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  22. ^ "Our Partners". Liverpool Health Partners. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  23. ^ "NHS National Institute for Health Research - Top 100 Performing Trusts". Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 5 August 2014.
  24. ^ "Research". Alder Hey Children's Hospital Trust.
  25. ^ "HSJ Awards shortlist announced". Health Service Journal.
  26. ^ "HSJ Awards 2014: Improving Care With Technology". Health Service Journal. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
  27. ^ "Child health research institute launches at Alder Hey in the Park - University of Liverpool News - University of Liverpool". University of Liverpool. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
  28. ^ "Hackathon on children's health - Student News". University of Liverpool. 30 October 2015. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
  29. ^ "Alder Hey to get freedom of the city in Liverpool". 16 May 2015. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
  30. ^ Spitz, L. (13 December 2003). "Peter Paul Rickham". BMJ. 327 (7428): 1408. doi:10.1136/bmj.327.7428.1408. PMC 293007.
  31. ^ Scotland, T (2014). "The First World War and its influence on the development of orthopaedic surgery". The Journal of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. 44 (2): 163–169. doi:10.4997/JRCPE.2014.217. PMID 24999781.
  32. ^ Connor, Steve (8 August 2010). "The miracle spray-on glass that stops the bugs". The Independent. Archived from the original on 6 May 2016. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
  33. ^ "Top nurse at Alder Hey receives Edge Hill University award". Edge Hill University. 28 July 2009. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
  34. ^ "Alder Hey Children's Charity launches £30m appeal". Alder Hey Children's Charity. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
  35. ^ "Alder Hey to raise £30m for new building". jmu-journalism.org.uk. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
  36. ^ "An incredible £20m raised for Alder Hey Children's Charity so far". Alder Hey Children's Charity. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
  37. ^ "Our Patrons". Alder Hey Children's Charity. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
  38. ^ "New £3m scanner targets tumours". BBC News. 10 December 2009. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
  39. ^ Moss, Stephen (24 August 2010). "Birdsong: the cure for all ills?". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 25 August 2010. Retrieved 25 August 2010.
  40. ^ "Imagine Appeal - Alder Hey Arts". Archived from the original on 4 December 2010. Retrieved 25 August 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  41. ^ "History". Art For Their Sake. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
  42. ^ Hunt, Helen (4 February 2014). "Fears for future of Alder Hey murals". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
  43. ^ Arts for Health at Alder Hey
  44. ^ "Ground-breaking new music residency at Alder Hey Children's Hospital | Live Music Now News | Live Music Now". Live Music Now. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
  45. ^ International Child Health Development Programme
  46. ^ "TV hospital that became a beacon of hope". The Telegraph. 30 January 2001. Retrieved 24 October 2011.
  47. ^ Watson, James (22 February 2011). "Heston's Mission Impossible, Channel 4, review". The Telegraph. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
  48. ^ "CBBC'S Operation Ouch! returns for a new series with Hospital Takeover at Alder Hey". BBC Media Centre. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
  49. ^ Hospital Intelligent Monitoring - What is Intelligent Monitoring?
  50. ^ "NHS Trusts put in risk categories - full list". The Independent. 24 October 2013. Archived from the original on 2 November 2013. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  51. ^ "Alder Hey Hospital 'requires improvement' overall, says CQC". 20 August 2014. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
  52. ^ "Alder Hey Children's Hospital - Quality Report" (PDF). CQC. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
  53. ^ "Alder Hey Children's Hospital". Care Quality Commission. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
  54. ^ Smyth, Chris (2 February 2019). "Disgraced CQC chief Dame Jo Williams given top job at children's hospital". The Times. Retrieved 2 February 2019.(subscription required)
  55. ^ "Louise Shepherd". Government Finance. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  56. ^ "Honorary Freedom of the Borough". Retrieved 17 December 2023.
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