New Technology and Techniques Creates New Frontiers and Endless Possibilities for Children in UK and overseas

Alder Hey were lucky enough to have His Royal Highness Prince William of Wales as their visitor on the 22nd February. He was visiting the hospital to open the intra-operative 3-T MRI facility, the first of it's kind in Europe and one that will revolutionise the treatment and facilities available to paediatric healthcare.

Whilst opening the new scanner, he also took time to go around and meet the patients, families and staff and find out just what this new piece of is already doing for them and also what it will mean for the future of paediatric healthcare and the developments within Alder Hey. A frequent visitor Alex Wright (Aged 7), painted a commemorative picture that was presented to Prince William to pay tribute to this auspicious occasion.

In 2007, Imagine secured a donation of £3 Million from The Barclay Foundation in order to help fund the 3-T MRI Scanner and in the 3 years that have followed we have seen the hospital adapt to house such a powerful devise and have seen the staff become specialised operators in this state of the art instrument.

This is the first such installation dedicated to paediatrics in Europe and among many features will allow: 

• surgeons to safely and  completely  remove tumours - significantly increasing survival rates in brain tumour cases   
• much more precise surgery - minimising the potential side effects of operations where millimetres matter   
• reduction in time, and number of times, children have to be anaesthetized and operated on 
• minimizing of the exposure to radiation in children who need multiple scans during their care and treatment.    

Acting Chief Executive Dr. Steve Ryan said 'We are tremendously excited by the potential for this outstanding facility which is one of only two dedicated paediatric units in the world.   We pride ourselves in offering world-class care and this is the newest application to further push the boundaries in both diagnostics and neurosurgery.   Alder Hey's Radiology department is already nationally recognized and is the preferred provider of paediatric imaging services for Cheshire, Merseyside and beyond.  As well as the combined benefits of the intra-operative facility - which is of particular value in neurosciences - the 3-T MRI facility will extend many further benefits including Lesional Epilepsy diagnosis and possible corrective surgery for this debilitating condition.'

The Barclay Foundation, set up by Sir David and Sir Frederick Barclay, made the new facility possible with a major donation of £3million in Autumn 2007. This followed the generous £2.25million donation in 2004 made via their company Littlewoods, which allowed Alder Hey to build the dedicated Littlewoods Paediatric Neurosciences Unit which is today Department of Health nominated National Centre for children with brain and spinal conditions.   Chair of the Imagine Appeal, Jim Davies added  'This is a great day for both Alder Hey and the Imagine Appeal where we have been able to share the vision of both the hospital and our benefactors with His Royal Highness. This fantastic facility, one of only two in the world, will allow Alder Hey to make ground breaking advances in the care and treatment of children and young people with serious and life threatening conditions.'

A Spokesman for The Barclay Foundation added, 'We are both delighted and honoured through the purchase of this advanced scanning equipment to have the opportunity to play a small part, together with the staff, nurses and doctors to help improve the lives of the many children who pass through Alder Hey. This is a very worthwhile institution to support'.