Alder Hey first hospital to honour schoolgirl's legacy

A Liverpool children's hospital has become the first in the country to meet the wishes of the Sophie's Legacy charity, set up following the death of a girl from cancer.

Alder Hey, which is one of Europe's biggest children's hospitals, has introduced daily play specialist support and meals for parents staying with a child at the hospital.

Sophie, from Hampshire, died in September 2021, just one year after being diagnosed with a rare childhood cancer Rhabdomyosarcoma.

Her mother Charlotte, who is chief executive of the charity, said they hoped "many more hospitals will now follow Alder Hey's lead".

She added: "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."

Sophie Legacy charity was launched following the death of 10-year-old Sophie.

She was nine when she was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma in September 2020.

During her treatment, she endured nine rounds of intense chemotherapy and seven weeks of radiotherapy.

Sophie died in September 2021, just one year after her diagnosis.

Alder Hey have also made improvements to food for young patients in line with Sophie's Legacy.

Nathan Askew, chief nurse at Alder Hey, said they were "incredibly proud" of fulfilling the wishes.

"This is about compassion, dignity and putting families at the heart of everything we do at Alder Hey," he added.

As one of four hospitals in the UK exclusively for children, Alder Hey provides care to more than 450,000 patients annually.