Visit to Alder Hey

Peter Dowd, Member of Parliament for Bootle, saw first-hand how one of the world’s leading paediatric hospitals is transforming children’s health when he visited Alder Hey Children’s Hospital on Friday 27 February.

Hosted by Alder Hey Children’s Charity as part of its Put Children First campaign, he toured the expanding healthcare campus, which includes an Innovation Hub, Mental Health Hub and a new state-of-the-art Neonatal Care Unit. Opening later this year, the Neonatal Unit will offer world class facilities and improved family centred support for the hospital’s smallest and most vulnerable patients.

During his tour, Peter met with Professor Iain Hennessey, Alder Hey’s Clinical Director of Innovation, to learn how the hospital’s Innovation Hub is transforming children’s healthcare. From using AI to improve access to care, to 3D printing for personalised treatment and virtual reality to support clinical training, the Hub is pioneering new approaches that are reshaping modern paediatrics.

The work of the Innovation Hub is proudly supported by Alder Hey Children’s Charity. Well-resourced paediatric innovation is vital for driving improvements in children’s health and is a core focus of the charity’s Put Children First campaign. The campaign is calling on political leaders to develop a health service that is truly designed around the needs of children, ensuring every child has the best start in life.

Reflecting on the visit, Fiona Ashcroft, Chief Executive of Alder Hey Children’s Charity, said:

“It was a pleasure to welcome Peter to Alder Hey today and to share how we are leading the way in transforming children’s healthcare. Innovation is essential if we are to give every child the best start in life, and that is why our Put Children First campaign is calling for greater investment in this vital area. Every child deserves the chance to grow up healthy, and that requires real commitment from national leaders. By working with Peter and MPs across the country, we can push for the action and investment needed to improve children’s health and give young people the very best start in life.”

Peter Dowd MP said:

“I was delighted to come to Alder Hey today to see first-hand the incredible work taking place to ensure our children can grow up healthier and happier. In my constituency, I see every day how important a healthy start in life is. I’m pleased to work alongside Alder Hey to do all that we can to give our children a brighter future.”

To find out more about Alder Hey Children’s Charity and their Put Children First campaign, please visit www.alderheycharity.org and www.putchildrenfirst.info.