Alder Hey Children's Hospital redevelopment revealed

The hospital was founded in 1914

Designs for the £237m redevelopment of a children's hospital in Merseyside have been revealed.

The new building at Liverpool's Alder Hey Children's Hospital will be constructed in Springfield Park, next door to the current site.

It will be surrounded by gardens and feature play areas on every ward.

The design, inspired by one of the patients, were unveiled by the Secretary of State for Health, Andrew Lansley.

Chief executive Louise Shepherd said: "We felt it was really important to design this hospital with the help of our children, who have been involved throughout the development phase.

"The new hospital will be fantastic for our patients, families and staff and enable us to achieve our ambition as an internationally-renowned children's hospital."

Once the new building is ready, the existing Alder Hey will be demolished and turned into a park, replacing the land lost in Springfield Park.

'Huge moment'

The new hospital will have 270 beds, including 48 critical care beds.

There will be six standard wards with 32 beds. Each ward will have two four-bed bays and 24 single rooms on each ward so the majority of children will have their own room with en-suite facilities.

The development will also include a multi-storey car park with 1,200 spaces, 200 more than the current site.

The hospital's chair, Sir David Henshaw, said: "This is a huge moment in Alder Hey's illustrious 100-year history.

"This is a really exciting time for everyone connected to Alder Hey."

The hospital, which was founded in 1914, provides care for more than 200,000 children and young people every year and is one of Europe's biggest and busiest children's hospitals.

Work on the new hospital is due to begin before the end of the year and the building is expected to open in 2015.