Alder Hey named first dedicated children’s trust to achieve advanced foundation status

Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust has made history as the first specialist children’s Trust to achieve Advanced Foundation Trust status.

It joins an elite group of just six NHS Trusts nationwide to receive this prestigious recognition from NHS England.

This recognition ranks Alder Hey alongside the very best organisations in the NHS. It celebrates the Trust’s effective leadership, solid governance, financial sustainability, and constant drive to improve.

This achievement belongs to Alder Hey’s incredible staff, volunteers, and partners. Their skill, empathy, and resilience ensure that children, young people, and families receive world-class care every day, even as the wider NHS faces unprecedented challenges.

As an Advanced Foundation Trust, Alder Hey will enjoy more independence to make local decisions, shape services, and speed up improvements for our patients. This newfound flexibility will supercharge Vision 2030, our proud commitment to creating a healthier, happier, and fairer future for every child and young person.

Alder Hey is working with partners through Vision 2030, to bring more care closer to home. They also aim to use digital and technological innovation impactfully and responsibly, and tackle the wider inequalities that shape children’s health and life chances. 

This approach fully embodies the three main shifts of the Government’s 10-Year Health Plan—focusing on preventative care, digital solutions, and community-based services.

John Grinnell, Chief Executive of Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, said: 

“This is a proud moment for Alder Hey and a tremendous endorsement of the work taking place across our organisation, and beyond.  

“To be the first dedicated children’s Trust to become an Advanced Foundation Trust is a significant milestone, but above all, it is a recognition of our people. Their expertise, compassion and commitment have made this possible, especially at a time when the NHS is under real pressure. 

“Advanced Foundation Trust status gives us greater freedom to make decisions locally, but it also brings a clear responsibility to use that freedom well. For Alder Hey, that means staying focused on what matters 

most: improving the health and life chances of children, young people and families, especially those facing the greatest inequalities. It is a responsibility we take seriously, and one we are proud to accept.  

“No single organisation can overcome the challenges facing children’s health alone. Alder Hey has the privilege of working with strong and committed partners. Together, we must grow our networks and deepen our connection with our communities. By working together, we will go further, faster in making our Vision 2030 ambition real for children, young people and families, and in fulfilling the potential of the Advanced Foundation Trust Programme.”  

NHS England North West Chair, Kathy Cowell, said: 

“This is fantastic news for children and families across the region. Being named in the first wave of the Advanced Foundation Trust Programme is a tremendous achievement for Alder Hey, and a real testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone at the Trust.  

“Advanced Foundation Trust status is the new mark of excellence for NHS providers, recognising organisations that are delivering high-quality care, strong leadership and financial sustainability.   

“This will give Alder Hey even greater freedom to respond to the needs of its patients and local community, meaning better, more joined-up care for the children and young people who depend on them. I look forward to seeing the Trust build on this well- deserved recognition.” 

Scheduled to commence on June 1, 2026, the new Advanced Foundation Trust status is subject to a five-year review cycle.

Find out more information about Vision 2030 here.

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