Parent and Carer Information about Alder Hey
Dear parent or carer,
During 2011, the Trust became aware of a number of patients whose hearing loss had been previously undetected despite testing within our Audiology Department. It has been identified that each of these patients was originally assessed by the same doctor. This doctor no longer works at Alder Hey.
Hearing tests in children require skilled interpretation. Also children’s hearing levels do fluctuate and tests can be affected by the presence of glue ear and the child’s age or behaviour e.g. if the child is tired, distracted etc.
What is happening at the moment?
The Trust has taken this issue very seriously and has launched an extensive internal investigation. Alder Hey has also referred the doctor to the General Medical Council. The investigation has included the review of patient records to identify any other patients who have been assessed by the doctor concerned.
The majority of these patients have also been seen by other members of our Audiology Team and as a consequence we believe the risk of misdiagnosis is low. However we are assessing each patient individually and are making contact with the families of children who require further testing.
I would like to apologise for any distress that may be caused to families. A helpline has been established and we would urge all families / patients who have concerns to contact us. All calls will be treated in the strictest confidence. The helpline number is 0151 252 5913 and 0151 252 5316.
Helpline Opening Times
Thursday 19th and Friday 20th January: 8.30am - 8.00pm
Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd January: 9.00am – 4.00pm
Monday 23rd – Friday 27th January: 9.00am – 5.00pm
Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th January: 9.00am- 4.00pm
Thereafter Monday – Friday: 9.00am – 5.00pm
Alder Hey has an excellent clinical record and the quality of our care is externally evaluated. Our performance is monitored rigorously by many independent regulatory bodies including the Care Quality Commission, the NHS Litigation Authority and Monitor. The Trust has also been awarded NHSLA Level 3, the highest possible accreditation rating for clinical risk management by the NHS Litigation Authority. These external assessments give us independent assurance of the robustness of our internal systems and processes. We are however undertaking a full through review in order that we can identify any areas for further improvement in relation to our patient care.
Our Audiology Department is one of the largest in NW England and carries out hearing tests on children from Liverpool, Sefton, Knowsley and some from the wider area. The Department’s main specialty is the detection and ongoing management of deafness in children, from birth to 19 years.
The Department participates fully in the Newborn Hearing Screening Quality Assurance Program and has consistently attained well above average scores in the last three assessments.
Letter to parents, carers and families from Alder Hey Chair Sir David Henshaw
“Alder Hey is an extraordinary place that provides fantastic support every day for children and young people. For me, the role as Chair was a great opportunity to be a part of that while helping to develop Alder Hey’s reputation further locally, 
nationally and internationally. I am delighted to join a team that contributes so much to the health of children and young people and I believe that we can develop further to become one of the world’s leading providers of paediatric healthcare. I’m extremely passionate about developing Alder Hey’s reputation worldwide to enable us to attract leading research projects, greater investment and world class expertise. There are many brilliant things going on here but I believe we can raise the quality of what we do and provide the very best care right here in Liverpool.
“The Children’s Health Park will be instrumental in building our reputation worldwide and will enable us to demonstrate why Alder Hey is the best. I have joined at a time when this project is at an advanced stage and I have been greatly impressed by the work of our Project Team. I’m extremely excited by the opportunity to play a part in taking this project across the finish line and making sure we have a brand new hospital by 2014. The Children’s Health Park is just part of our journey and we are also focusing on how we can improve all aspects of our patients’ journey. We want to ensure that your experience at Alder Hey is as positive as it can be right from arrival, throughout the duration of stay and in the treatment/care received after you leave. It’s so important that we listen to our children, young people and families as we look to make these improvements and develop our vision of a new hospital.
“I also feel that Alder Hey has a major part to play in producing a positive health agenda for children and young people. We have a key role in preventable health and by becoming the GPs partner of choice, we can take public health into the community and reach outwards to help the families in the communities we serve.
“I’m certainly looking forward to the future and seeing just what we can achieve. This is an exciting time and I firmly believe that we can make a massive difference to the lives of children and young people in Liverpool, right across the North West and beyond.”
Patient Experience
We continually strive to improve our services and to do this we need your help.
We have an open and honest approach to dealing with comments and concerns.
We try very hard to learn from what you tell us and to use this information to improve our services.
If a parent or carer raises a concern or makes a negative comment, their child’s care will not be adversely affected in any way whatsoever.
The Trust welcomes and values your feedback.
You can do this by completing:
- an online questionnaire on the Your views page on the Trust website
- a PALS feedback card. See PALS for more information.
Please do let us know your ideas and suggestions.
