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F. The Alder Play App

Aims:
• To create a state of the art app that enhances the
experience of care for children and young people
at Alder Hey
• To distract, reward and familiarise children using
a familiar digital medium
• To engage with parents to answer their questions
about Alder Hey and what may happen during Future Plans
their child’s visit to the hospital
The IT team at Alder Hey have provided continued
expert input to Alder Play and involvement has been
furthered enhanced by the GDE programme. As Alder
Play is introduced across the Trust, the Innovation Team
will work closely with departments to support adoption
and realise the benefits of Alder Play. Initial evaluation
of impact will be led by a strategic partnership with The
University of Liverpool.

Development of Alder Play will continue, informed by
the needs of children, families and staff. The Children
and Young Peoples
Forum have already Niamh now says.
played a central role and “It is exciting to see
Reasons for Change will continue to do so. that the app is coming
Alder Play originated a to life and providing
The Alder Play app has been developed by the number of years ago entertainment for other
Innovation Team at Alder Hey working in partnership when a seven year children like me. I
with Alder Hey Children’s Charity. Designed with the old patient Niamh really like the ‘Ask Oli’
help of young patients, the app is powered by the very suggested to hospital page which is really
latest digital and cognitive advances. staff the idea for an app helpful and means kids
to be created that would and parents can ask
Evidence suggests that distraction can reduce worries distract children like questions about their
and fears in children, whilst rewards can support her while they were in stay in hospital.”
positive health behaviours. Both approaches are used hospital.
widely across the hospital, but this is the first time a
bespoke digital medium will assist staff to engage 3.3.3 PRIORITY 3 – Increase the
children to enhance their experience of care.
Number of Defined Clinical Care
Improvement Pathways across our Specialties

The app uses gaming and augmented reality to distract
In reviewing feedback from patients and staff, and in
patients having procedures in hospital. Young patients
analysing complaints, incidents, mortality and morbidity
choose an avatar which will help them understand their
reports, the Trust recognises that there is a degree of
hospital visit before they arrive and guide them through
variation in care across the specialties and across the
a tour of the main hospital areas.
week. We are committed to utilising best practice, such
as NICE guidelines, national service specifications and
Rewards in the form of virtual stickers can be given by
other evidence to ensure the same standardised, high
staff to acknowledge or encourage progress and there
quality care is delivered to all patients seven days a
are games and video content to access too.
week.
Within Alder Play, parents are also able to interact
In striving to deliver this priority, the Trust agreed to
with a chatbot called “Ask Oli” to ask questions about
place a specific focus on:
the hospital and what may happen to their child. The
chatbot is powered by artificial intelligence and can • Developing care pathways across clinical specialties
answer questions in real time.
• Developing a system of 7 day working

Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust 120 Annual Report & Accounts 2017/18