It is a busy period for hospitals across the country and high levels of attendance are experienced
18:04, 14 Dec 2025Updated 18:04, 14 Dec 2025
Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, Liverpool.(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
Alder Hey Children’s Hospital has shared an urgent plea to anyone seeking medical attention. Alder Hey is one of Europe’s biggest and busiest children’s hospitals, they treat everything from common illnesses to highly complex and specialist conditions.
Every year, the hospital provides care to more than 450,000 children and young people. The Christmas period is a particularly busy time for Alder Hey and their A&E department often experiences higher levels of attendance than usual, meaning long waiting times can be expected.
On social media, Alder Hey has shared an important message, it said: “Please only attend in cases of emergency. To help you make the right decision, please use the NHS 111 or our online symptom checker tool.”
Dr Charlotte Durand, Consultant in Paediatric Emergency Medicine at Alder Hey, said: “We are currently experiencing a very busy period with lots of children coming through with coughs and cold as well as temperatures.
“We understand you are worried about your child when they unwell but we would encourage you to access alternative services if possible. If you come to Alder Hey, you may be directed to our PC24 urgent care service and if you are able to access other services we would appreciate you exploring these.
“These include the Alder Hey symptom checker, also thinking about GPs and walk-in centres where you can access care.”
Dr Durand added: “However, if you are worried about your children the Alder Hey Emergency Department is always here for you.”
Aside from at Alder Hey, people across Cheshire and Merseyside are being urged to use NHS 111 for all non-emergency healthcare needs ahead of planned industrial action by resident doctors and the busy Christmas period.
Unions announced a full walkout of resident doctors from 7am on Wednesday December 17 to 7am on Monday December 22. NHS Cheshire and Merseyside’s Medical Director, Professor Rowan Pritchard Jones, said: “With this being our busiest time of the year, we’re asking for the public’s support in continuing to use NHS services appropriately.
“The NHS has tried and tested plans in place to mitigate risks to patient safety and manage any disruption, including industrial action, but inevitably a walkout on this scale will lead to significant service disruption.
“You should still call 999 or go to A&E in an emergency when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk. But if you need urgent medical help and you’re not sure where to go, use NHS 111 online to get assessed and directed to the right place for you.”
The NHS will continue to deliver planned care where possible, especially for patients in greatest clinical need, and public are urged to attend any planned appointments unless contacted directly by the NHS to reschedule.
Local NHS services will be using their websites and social media channels to provide up-to-date information to the public about local service disruption, so you should check before you travel.
In the build up to Christmas, people are also being urged to remember the important steps they can take to prepare for the busy festive period. Repeat prescriptions should be ordered by Monday December 15 to guarantee that they are available in time for the Christmas holiday period.