In 2023 Alder Hey Innovation officially launched the new Innovation Strategy: “Today’s Child, Tomorrow’s Healthier Adult”. This landmark event, held at the hospital’s Innovation Hub, welcomed guests from the press and local authorities to explore how Alder Hey is using technology, data, and creative thinking to shape a healthier future for children and young people.
The strategy focuses on solving the most urgent health challenges faced by children—especially those most vulnerable—through innovation that starts at Alder Hey but reaches into homes, communities, and beyond.
Transforming Care from Hospital to Home
A major highlight of the event was showcasing ‘Little Hearts at Home’, a remote monitoring platform designed for babies with severe congenital heart defects.
Families like Matilda’s are already feeling the difference. Born under 3kg with a complex heart condition, Matilda was able to spend her first Christmas at home thanks to this breakthrough.
“The platform has allowed us to go home and lead a normal family life.”
Beth, Matilda’s Mum
Lab2Life: Defending a Child’s Right to Thrive
Another key pillar of the strategy is Lab2Life, Alder Hey’s mission to use data to protect the rights of every child to live a healthy, fulfilling life, starting with their right to breathe.
One pioneering initiative under this banner is the Clean Air Clinic, led by Professor Sinha, which tackles respiratory illnesses linked to poor air quality. This work is crucial in cities like Liverpool, where:
- Children are twice as likely to be admitted to hospital for bronchiolitis and asthma than the UK average.
The poorest children face significantly higher risks of serious illness.
Empowering Young Minds Through Mental Health Innovation
Mental health is another key focus. Shockingly, 7 in 10 children and young people in the UK with mental health conditions do not receive timely interventions. Accessibility and awareness are major barriers—but Alder Hey is changing that.
For the first time in the UK, Alder Hey has created a digital mental health platform that links a wide range of services across Liverpool and Sefton. The platform enables self-referral, improves access to help, and brings early support closer to those who need it most.
Explore the platform here