Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust

One of the UK's specialist children's cancer and leukaemia treatment centres.

Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, Eaton Road, West Derby, Liverpool, L12 2AP

Telephone: 0151 228 4811

Website: www.alderhey.nhs.uk

Located on the ground floor you will find a shop, restaurant and 24-hour vending machines. There is also a post box located near the Eaton Road entrance to the Hospital. An ATM machine is located on the main ground floor corridor between the restaurant and Eaton Road hospital entrance. Public telephones are located throughout the hospital. A playground, all-weather sports pitch and garden are also available for all families and patients to use from 8am-8pm.

There is an Interpretation Service and Patient Advice and Liaison Services (PALS), which provide a confidential service to all patients, family members and carers attending Alder Hey. PALS can be contacted on 0151 252 5161. Office hours are Mon-Fri 9.00am-4.30pm and there is an answering service that picks up calls outside these hours. Or you can email PALS@alderhey.nhs.uk

Eaton Road (opposite the entrance to the Oncology Unit) has a variety of shops, including a number of cafes. The nearest supermarket is a 10-minute walk from the hospital and a benefits agency is situated next door to the Eaton Road Hospital entrance.

There are a variety of fast-food outlets near the hospital.

Train: The nearest stations are Lime Street and Central Railway Station in the centre of Liverpool. They are approximately eight miles distance from the hospital so further transport would be required.

Bus: Many buses service the hospital from across Liverpool. To find out more, please call the Mersey Travel Helpline on 0151 236 7676 or their website www.merseytravel.gov.uk.

Parking on site: There is limited on site parking at the hospital. Long-stay parking (up to 24 hours) is found in the main car park and can be accessed via the Alder Road entrance. Payment should be made at the pay-on-foot machines before exiting the car park. Parking costs £1.50 per 24-hour stay (including multiple visits during this time). You can save money by purchasing a 10-visit ticket, works out at 75p per visit, from the cash office in the main corridor of the hospital, opposite the shop.

Drop off/pick up: Drivers can drop off/pick up without charge, but must leave the car park within 30 minutes.

Oncology Unit: Children’s Ward & Teenage Cancer Unit, Day Care Ward, Clinic and Bone Marrow Transplant Unit.

Direct telephone: Inpatient Ward 0151 252 5212; Day Care 0151 252 5804.

Number of beds: The Oncology Ward has 13 inpatient beds (flexed between children, teenagers and cubicles.

Age range: 0–19yrs

Play: There is an in-patient play area, mainly for younger children. Two play specialists are key members of the team. There are DVDs, games consoles, arts and crafts, games and computers. Outside the ward there is a soft play area with climbing frames. In the teen area there is a ‘chill out’ room with a pool table, TV, stereo and a kitchen. There is a Teenage Cancer Trust Youth Support Co-ordinator who engages 13+ year olds in activities including regular film nights for inpatients.

Learning: During the school term, children of school age that are well enough have lessons from teachers on the ward. If a child is going to be in hospital for more than a few days, a teacher will contact their school to find out what work they are doing. If a child is unable to return to school for some time following their discharge, ask your child’s Consultant. Computers and internet connection are available in the Oncology school room.

Other facilities: The Oncology Unit has a parent and carer facility which includes a lounge, kitchen with a fridge and microwave, shower room, and a washing machine. There is a chef on the inpatient ward who can prepare a meal for one parent/carer at a minimal cost.

Meals: Breakfast is at 8am, lunch at 12pm and dinner at 4.45pm. There is 24-hour access to food with a snack-box/ward service operating throughout the hospital.

Rounds: Ward Rounds are conducted by a Consultant first thing in the morning, usually between 9am and 11am.

Visiting: For close family, including brothers and sisters, open access visiting is in place and encouraged. Other visitors are welcome to visit until 8pm. No more than four visitors are recommended at any one time and children under 16 must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Visiting hours in the Intensive Care, High Dependency and Neo-Natal units are different to other wards. Please contact the appropriate unit for details.

If you or any visitors have an infection, such as a cough or cold, or have been in contact with someone with measles, chicken pox or any infectious disease, please check with ward staff before visiting.

One parent is able to sleep next to the child’s bed on a separate pull-out bed. The hospital has a Ronald McDonald house on the premises for non-Liverpool families. Accommodation is arranged by the hospital accommodation officer via ward nurse.

Children’s Cancer Support Group (CHICS) provide support and self-help for parents, relatives, siblings and friends of children with cancer. This includes informal group meetings, regular newsletters and information about holidays and outings. Three CHICs groups meet regularly in Wrexham, Wallasey and Liverpool. As part of this, Liverpool Young Person’s Group meets monthly. There is also a satellite parents' group in Cheshire.