Alder Hey – Driving the City’s Economy

Liverpool Knowledge Economy goes far beyond its core in the east of the city centre. Less than five miles away, Alder Hey is making a huge contribution to the region’s growing knowledge economy.

The economy in the city of Liverpool is increasingly strong and continues to attract private investment in a difficult financial climate. As one of Europe’s biggest children’s hospital’s with a turnover of £170.5million, Alder Hey is playing a crucial role as a key economic driver in the region through employment, innovation, research and development.

Driving the Economy Through Employment

To provide world class paediatric healthcare to the children and young people of the North West, North Wales, Isle of Man and beyond, we employ approximately 2600 staff at our main site in West Derby and across 600 community clinics. This includes 1795 full time positions, which equates to almost 2% of all full time jobs in Liverpool.

As a renowned teaching hospital, Alder Hey also takes on about 550 medical students and 400 nursing students every year. Their contribution to the city’s economy is crucial, with many enjoying Liverpool’s nightlife, leisure and shopping facilities throughout their studies before remaining in the city to live and work.

Driving the Economy Through Innovation and Research

Since opening our doors in 1914, Alder Hey has gained a worldwide reputation as pioneers of children’s healthcare. Some of our most amazing and little known innovations and ‘firsts’ include:

· Today’s preferred technique in administering paediatric anaesthesia was pioneered at Alder Hey by Dr Jackson Rees.

· Mr Robert Jones was knighted for advancements made in x-ray and orthopaedic work at Alder Hey.

· First neonatal unit in the UK established at Alder Hey

· First University Institute of Child Health in the UK established at Alder Hey

· Penicillin first tested at Alder Hey in 1944 to save a child critically ill with pneumonia.

· Splints and bespoke appliances first made at Alder Hey include the Jones Spinal Frame and the famous Thomas Splint.

· The most commonly encountered congenital heart defect in the UK was first cured at Alder Hey by Mr Edwards.

Alder Hey remains committed to remaining a world class centre for children’s research and development at the forefront of paediatric health research. Over the past year, the Trust increased its research income to £3.8million and was a participating centre in 92 clinical research studies.

The UK Medicines for Children’s Research Network is hosted at Alder Hey in conjunction with the University of Liverpool and brings in a grant of around £22million. The Trust also recently established the Children’s Nursing Research Unit, an Alder Hey led consortium comprising Liverpool’s John Moore’s University, University of Central Lancashire and Edge Hill University.

Driving the Economy Through Our Children’s Health Park

Although Liverpool’s economy is currently thriving, challenges remain in continuously driving down regional growth. It is therefore essential that Alder Hey continues to attract the very best paediatric consultants, surgeons, nurses and researchers by providing the very best environment for them to work in.

The Children’s Health Park development will undoubtedly ensure that Merseyside’s most famous hospital continues to be nationally and internationally recognised; for world class research and paediatric healthcare; as an obvious choice for investment and as an attractive, first choice place to train and work.

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