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on developing the cardiac network across the region in that the research experience of children and young
order to provide seamless pathways of care for children people is bound within the best possible standards of
with congenital heart problems. quality, safety and excellence.

Alder Hey continues to be a top performing trust. We Alder Hey is an organisation focused on innovation
remain registered with the Care Quality Commission and finding novel solutions to challenges. With the
(CQC) without conditions. Our ratings from the health charitable sector and research into exciting new
sector regulator, Monitor and from April 2016 NHS therapies for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, the
Improvement, have been generally among the highest Trust has been at the forefront of developing and
available since authorisation as an NHS foundation testing a novel resource model to increase capacity to
trust in 2008 and we have consistently achieved the deliver DMD research studies and meet the needs of
majority of the government’s NHS Constitution access affected families and study sponsors. In 2017/18, the
and quality targets. In 2017/18 the Trust planned a use resourcing plan reached maturity and the outputs will
of resources risk rating of 2 (NHSI’s financial risk rating) be of national significance and may herald new ways of
but actually achieved a rating of 1, which is the highest working between the charitable and NHS sectors.
possible, due to our better than expected financial
performance. The Trust places meaningful involvement and
engagement of children, young people and families at
The year saw much progress and achievement against the heart of its research activities. In 2017/18, through
the Trust’s Integrated Research Strategy for Child the NIHR Alder Hey Clinical Research Facility, the Trust
Health in partnership with the University of Liverpool has enhanced its international reputation for public
and other academic institutions. engagement in research and leadership in the field.
The ‘Alder Hey Way’ has been showcased at multiple
Since opening, the Alder Hey Institute in the Park has national and international conferences by children and
provided a fertile environment for researchers from young people themselves. The Trust prides itself on
within the Trust and the University of Liverpool. In empowering children, young people and families to
2017/18, work commenced in earnest on the extension co-create many of its important research studies and
of the building to house three other academic partners associated activities.
from Autumn 2018: Edge Hill University, Liverpool
John Moores University and the University of Central The Trust is supported by two main registered charities
Lancashire. This visibly demonstrates Alder Hey’s and through the work that they do to support the
ambition to be the premier partner for children’s health hospital, we can ensure that Alder Hey’s pioneering
research and provides a unique opportunity for multi- work continues to make a difference to the lives of
institutional research to benefit the population locally, children. In addition to the Alder Hey Children’s Charity,
nationally and internationally. the Ronald McDonald House charity continues to
support up to 84 families in ‘home away from home’
The Trust has continued to deliver research at volume accommodation on the campus whilst their children
and to the highest standards of safety and quality. are being treated in the hospital. We continue to
Increasing evidence has established the association work closely and strengthen our relationship with our
between research volume and intensity in the hospital charitable partners.
and improved health outcomes for patients. In 2017/18,
Alder Hey recruited over 9,000 children and young We have been authorised as a foundation trust since
people into its research studies, placing it among August 2008 and have an active Council of Governors
the highest performing trusts in the UK and ensuring representing patients, parents, carers, staff, the
that its continued ability to deliver research studies at general public and partner organisations. The Council
high volume will add to the legacy of improved health represents our membership which currently totals
benefits for its patients. almost 14,000 people across the regions we serve. We
have also established our Children and Young Peoples’
The safety and quality of research is of paramount Forum which meets regularly with Trust staff and has
importance. In the past year, Alder Hey, through input to a range of hospital activities and plans, as well
its prominence in the Health Research Leadership as playing a key role in the recruitment of key Board
Organisation, has been supporting the development level posts.
of the framework for the regulation of research by the
Care Quality Commission which is to be introduced in
2018. This emphasises the Trust’s focus on ensuring

Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust 9 Annual Report & Accounts 2017/18