Our Hospital

Designed by Children for Children

“From the beginning we strived to create a world-class healing environment that would benefit children and young people from across the UK and throughout the world. This was a once in a life time opportunity to create something really special for our patients, families and staff; a dedicated healthcare facility providing the very best treatment and care to thousands of children and young people.” Louise Shepherd, Chief Executive

In 2015, we opened a state-of-the-art hospital inspired by the thousands of children and young people we treat from across the UK.

Our Hospital features 270 beds, including 48 critical care beds for patients in ICU, HDU and Burns, together with 16 digitally enhanced operating theatres. The majority of our children and their families have their own room and en-suite facilities and park views outside their bedroom window; while each ward has its own kitchen providing patients with freshly cooked food to order.    

Europe’s only hospital in a park, the unique design of Alder Hey in the Park provides the best possible environment and experience for patients and their families, along with ensuring the most effective and efficient care. Six large, colourful and spacious wards with outdoor play areas have been specifically designed to benefit patient’s needs, there are easy check in facilities for outpatients, patients have improved access to specialist rehabilitation, while unique distraction, play and entertainment systems funded by Alder Hey Children’s Charity reduce anxiety and boredom during treatment.

The Hospital also features charitably funded cutting-edge lifesaving equipment, including integrated operating theatres, an intra-operative 3T MRI scanner, a unique hybrid operating theatre, CARTO system, Brain Lab navigation technology and an EOS imaging scanner.

Children and young people were involved in designing the new hospital. During an initial consultation back in 2009, almost 1000 patients drew pictures and shared their views on what their new hospital should look like. A Children and Young People’s Design Group, made up of current and former patients aged 10-22, also had their say throughout the design process on everything from the colour of their room, to the artwork displayed in the new hospital and what their wards should look like.

Eleanor Brogan, a member of the Children and Young People’s Design Group took part in the consultation back in 2009 and her picture was included in Alder Hey’s initial brief to architects BDP. She said: “I was a patient here when I was 14 years old and I wanted the new hospital to have open spaces, greenery and natural light. When I drew my picture seven years ago, I didn’t expect I would play such an important part in the design of the new Alder Hey. Since then, I have been involved in many amazing design decisions and I’m really excited to show the facility to some of the patients who are going to benefit from this fantastic new hospital.”