Over 2000 attend screenings in first 6 months of Alder Hey’s MediCinema
May 24th marks the 6-month anniversary of MediCinema’s newest facility opening at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, Liverpool. In that time over 2,000 children and young people and their families have enjoyed the therapeutic benefits of the shared cinema experience transforming their hospital experiences.
This state-of-the-art cinema is currently the only one at a standalone paediatric hospital in the UK and the first cinema in a hospital in the Northwest of England. The foyer features a bold, colourful rainbow design visible from the ground floor atrium and includes a quite zone for children to escape to if they need some downtime, plus a digital wall showing the latest movie trailers.
Bringing the magic of cinema
From UK premiers and character visits to personal screenings for vulnerable patients and ‘fun in the foyer’ with themed arts and crafts, patients at Alder Hey have been shown the full MediCinema experience. In the first 6 months we have seen:
- 2000+ children, young people and their families attending 116 screenings
- 84 patients attending a screening in their hospital beds
- 18 personal screenings for vulnerable patients or those receiving end of life care providing families the chance to build lasting memories and moments of connection
- 2 UK premiers with Moana 2 and A Minecraft Movie screened for patients ahead of general cinema release.
Transforming the hospital experience
2-year-old Oliver has a long-term heart condition and was admitted to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital over the Christmas period. Already a huge fan of ‘The Lion King’, he and his family were offered the chance to attend a private screening of Disney’s ‘Mufasa: The Lion King’.
![get_sub_field('image')['alt']](https://www.medicinema.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Oliver-case-study-2-768x1024.jpg)
It was amazing, Oliver loved the film and seeing the lions on the screen. He was singing and dancing along and after the past couple of weeks this was really special to see. Oliver has never been to a cinema before, so this truly was a wonderful experience
Chloe, Oliver's Mum
You can read more about Oliver’s story here
Alder Hey MediCinema Manager, Laura Smith, has been instrumental in getting the new MediCinema up and running and integrated within the services of the hospital. Since launch she has built up a team of dedicated volunteers and MediCinema nurses who support each of the four weekly inpatient screenings as well as special and personal screenings and our Tailored Screening Programme for dedicated outpatient groups.
Since opening in November, our incredible MediCinema has transformed the hospital experience for over 2,000 children, young people, and their families. It has provided a magical escape and a sense of normality during sometimes long stays and brings smiles to those who need it most. We want to say a massive thank you to all our supporters who have helped bring this dream to life. Also a special thank you to our volunteers and nurses who make each screening special for everyone attending. We couldn’t imagine not having the cinema at Alder Hey.
Nathan Askew, Chief Nurse at Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust
We are incredibly proud of the profound impact that the Alder Hey MediCinema has made over the past six months. Witnessing the joy and comfort it brings to children, young people, and families during their time in hospital has been truly heartwarming. It captures the very essence of the ‘Alder Hey Magic’ we strive to create for every child. A heartfelt thank you to our amazing supporters, donors, partners, and the dedicated team at MediCinema for helping us to bring this magical space to life.
Fiona Ashcroft, Alder Hey CHildren's Charity CEO
Launched in November 2024, the MediCinema at Alder Hey Children’s hospital is run in partnership between MediCinema, Alder Hey Children’s Charity and Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust. Screening the latest release at no cost to patients or the NHS each MediCinema has room for hospital beds, wheelchairs, and medical equipment, with every screening supported by two MediCinema nurses.
