Alder Hey has become the first hospital in the country to fully deliver all commitments of Sophie’s Legacy, setting a new national standard for compassionate, family-centred care.
Created in memory of nine-year-old Sophie Fairall, Sophie’s Legacy calls for simple but powerful changes to improve the hospital experience for children and their families. Alder Hey has now fulfilled every one of those wishes.

The wishes were to provide play specialists seven days a week in hospital, improvements to food for children in hospital, and for parents to be fed when staying with a child.
“We want to say a massive thank you to Alder Hey in making this happen, to the play team, the catering team and everyone who has been involved. Alder Hey is the first hospital in the country that has managed to fully implement all of Sophie’s wishes and we hope many more hospitals will now follow Alder Hey’s lead.”
Charlotte Fairall, Sophie’s mum and CEO of Sophie’s Legacy
Nathan Askew, Chief Nurse at Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust said:
“Fulfilling all of Sophie’s wishes is something we are incredibly proud of. Sophie’s Legacy is about listening to children and families and acting on what really matters to them, and these changes reflect that commitment in a very real way. This is about compassion, dignity and putting families at the heart of everything we do at Alder Hey.”
By fully delivering Sophie’s Legacy, Alder Hey has not only honoured Sophie’s memory but also led the way for hospitals across the country, demonstrating how listening to families and acting with compassion can transform the hospital experience.