Please note, we can only offer treatment to young people under the age of 16, after which they will need to attend an adult Emergency department. You can find your nearest Adult A&E service on the NHS Choices website.
Find your nearest adult A&E Symptom CheckerNoise and disruption
Ongoing development work near our Emergency Department is causing higher noise levels in our waiting areas. We are making every effort to reduce the impact and appreciate your patience and understanding during this time.
Building work to improve our Emergency Department
At Alder Hey’s Emergency Department, some children and young people who attend do not require emergency care, which can result in longer waiting times for others.
To address this, we are constructing a new, purpose-built facility connected to the current Emergency Department.
This facility will include a Paediatric Admissions Unit, a Same Day Emergency Centre, and an Urgent Treatment Centre, enabling children and young people to receive timely care from the most appropriate clinical team.
The new building is designed to enhance patient flow, improve the overall experience, and reduce waiting times and length of stay.
Construction has begun, and to facilitate the connection between the two areas, the Emergency Department waiting room has been temporarily relocated to the Hospital’s Radiology Department.
One parent/carer per child
Due to limited space within our waiting areas, we would appreciate it if children/young people were accompanied by one parent/carer where possible.
Children and young people with additional needs
We have a sensory room away from the waiting area that can be utilised by children or young people who may need it. Please speak to a member of staff on the reception or triage desk to find out more.
Accessing A&E
You can find out more about how to access our Emergency Department in the below video:
Symptom Checker
We have been experiencing extremely high levels of attendance in the Emergency Department. If your need is not urgent, you could face a lengthy wait. Check your child’s symptoms before attending our Emergency Department by using our Symptom Checker tool below.
We have developed a new ‘symptom checker’ to help parents and carers understand their poorly child’s symptoms and what they can do for them. Using the Symptom Checker will help parents and carers decide where best to get the right care for their child, be it at home, at their local chemist, walk-in centre or GP, or with a trip to Alder Hey’s Emergency Department. Click the below button to use our online Symptom Checker.
Go to our Symptom CheckerWalk In Centres
There a several available Walk In Centres in Liverpool offering same day access to medical advice and treatment.
Info on Walk In CentresTriaging
Everyone who comes to Alder Hey’s Emergency Department is triaged on arrival, so patients can be seen in order of priority.
We understand that long waits can be frustrating, however it means that the children going ahead are more unwell, even if that isn’t always visible.
Some of the sickest children come directly through another entrance and you may not be aware of their arrival in the department.
We designate arrivals into one of the below categories, which has an influence on wait times
- Green (or See and Treat) category – we feel your child is safe to wait for a consultation, these children will wait the longest within the department
- Yellow category – your child needs to be seen and will be prioritised but there will still be a wait
- Orange category – Your child needs to be seen urgently; they will be seen as soon as a clinician is available. They will be taken into a room as soon as possible
- Red category – your child is very unwell and needs to be seen immediately
Referrals
We do not accept referrals to the Paediatric Emergency Medicine Team. If your GP would like you to be seen at Alder Hey, they may send you to the Emergency Department, but this should be to a speciality team with whom they have discussed your child’s care prior to your arrival. If this telephone referral is not made, your child will be triaged and will wait for an Emergency Department doctor or nurse practitioner in the general queue.
Where are we?
Please note
Access and parking for our Emergency Department has changed slightly, due to enabling works starting on our new Surgical NICU. Find out more about the changes to access and parking.
Our Emergency Department has a dedicated entrance at Alder Hey in the Park.
To access the Emergency Department by car, enter the hospital site from the Eaton Road entrance where there is a short stay car park and drop-off facility. For sat-navs, the postcode to use is L12 2AP.
How to find us and where to park