Liverpool is a major port city in Great Britain, home to a large number of institutions, educational establishments, and hospitals. Today, we’re going to talk about Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, one of the largest children’s hospitals in the country. This medical institution has a long history, and over the years, the hospital has continuously improved, providing high-quality medical services to its young patients. Read more about the history of this medical facility on the iliverpool.info website.
A History of its Creation: From a Military Hospital to a Children’s Hospital
The story of Alder Hey Children’s Hospital began back in 1914. Initially, it was a military hospital. During the First World War, it treated wounded soldiers. In the Second World War, the facility was once again used to treat injured service personnel.
In 1953, the Liverpool Neonatal Surgical Unit was opened at the hospital, the first of its kind in the UK. It’s worth noting that the opening of this neonatal intensive care unit was thanks to the efforts of paediatric surgeon Isabella Forshall.
In 1990, the Royal Liverpool Children’s Hospital had to close. As a result, its accident and emergency department was transferred to Alder Hey.
The Reconstruction of the Children’s Hospital
In 2014, Alder Hey Children’s Hospital celebrated its centenary, which was also its final year in the old building. The new hospital opened its doors to patients in October 2015. Incidentally, it was the first children’s hospital in Europe to be built inside a park. The young patients at the hospital have access to play areas, plenty of natural light, and incredible views.
Furthermore, the medical facility specialises in oncology, muscular dystrophy, and conditions of the spine, heart, and brain. Alder Hey also has a dedicated children’s major trauma centre and an intraoperative MRI scanner, which assists neurosurgeons. The hospital collaborates with the University of Liverpool, conducting research into children’s medicines, infections, and diseases.
Alder Hey employs around 2,400 healthcare staff and treats over 270,000 young patients from across the UK each year.
Key Facts About the Hospital
Alder Hey Children’s Hospital is funded by the NHS, but it is also supported by the Alder Hey Children’s Charity, which helps the medical facility. All charitable funds are spent for the benefit of the patients: on hospital initiatives, improving the comfort of children and their parents, and acquiring state-of-the-art medical equipment.
For example, in October 2013, the charity launched an appeal to raise £30 million. The funds were needed for new equipment. Two years later, over £20 million had been raised. It should be added that many famous personalities support and assist the hospital’s charity.
However, Alder Hey is known for more than just its charitable activities. This medical facility was the first in the UK to conduct clinical trials of penicillin. In 1944, doctors tested the antibiotic to save a child from pneumonia. Alder Hey was also the first to use ‘liquid glass’ (sodium silicate) to reduce infection rates. The hospital is also constantly involved in developing various splints and other devices to make patients’ lives easier. For example, the Thomas splint was developed at this hospital.
Alder Hey Children’s Hospital is a medical facility with a rich history that has been treating young patients for many decades. Here, they strive not only to provide high-quality medical services but also to ensure the comfort and well-being of the children and their parents. We hope you found this article informative and learned more about Liverpool’s famous children’s hospital.
Stay healthy and take care!