Big move begins for new £250m Alder Hey Children's hospital

The new hospital has been designed to make it as child-friendly as possible

Patients and staff are starting a five-day move into the new £250m Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool.

Nearly 200 patients, 3,000 staff and equipment will be moved along an overground tunnel connecting the two sites, with acute cases moving first.

The new hospital was partly designed by children. It is at Springfield Park next to the current site,

Among its features are greater facilities for families, en-suite rooms, green spaces and play areas .

The hospital, which has taken two years to build, has a design based on a drawing submitted by Eleanor Brogan, who was a 15-year-old patient at the time.

Her drawing was one of 1,000 submitted by young patients who were canvassed for their views on what the new hospital needed.

Eleanor Brogan was a teenage patient when she submitted her design for the new hospital

She said: "A child in hospital has no freedom and I wanted to think of open spaces, greenery and natural light - about as opposite to a hospital as you could possibly get.

"When I drew my picture seven years ago, I didn't expect I would play such an important part in the design."

The hospital's chief executive Louise Shepherd said: "This was a once in a life time opportunity to create something really special for our patients, families and staff."

It has 270 beds, including 48 critical care beds, with a play area on every ward and a dedicated chef on each floor to prepare fresh evening meals.

After the move, the former building will be demolished to create more parkland.

Alder Hey In The Park has play areas and green spaces

The old hospital was in a building dating back more than 100 years

Children were consulted over the hospital's look

The design emphasises light and open spaces