How we help

The Frances Centre at Aintree University Hospital supports the recovery and wellbeing of patients living with dementia, it was made possible following a major donation from Professor Ananda Dulal Sarkar, in loving memory of his late wife, Frances.  

Frances Sarkar spent most of her life supporting those in her community who often didn’t have family or friends. She would visit care homes, organising trips out and making clothes for the residents. Tragically,

Frances was diagnosed with vascular dementia and passed away in 2021.
Prof Sarkar wanted Frances’ legacy of filling people’s twilight years with companionship and happiness to live on through The Frances Centre. 

Following the success of the centre, a second Frances Centre is due to open at Broadgreen Hospital in Spring 2025.  Thanks to the generosity of one of our corporate supporters, leading chartered engineering consultancy Sutcliffe, work is underway to create a smaller activities centre at the Royal Liverpool Hospital.

Thanks to these generous donors, Frances’ memory and legacy lives on at our hospitals.   

Our Nature Recovery Ranger Programme aims to improve health and wellbeing by increasing biodiversity and improve access to green spaces in areas of high deprivation. The Ranger leads biodiversity improvements and engagement activities with patients, staff, the local community and organisations including:

• Green therapy sessions for patients, including older peoples wards and clinical psychology services  
• Staff wellbeing sessions
• Support to existing green social prescribing groups
• Enhances corporate volunteering days
• Management of Bluebell woods at Aintree
• Donations of seeds and bulbs to local schools and community helping ‘green’ the communities around our sites. 

We need more help to enable this award-winning legacy project to continue which is wholly funded by charitable donations and social value contributions.  If you can support with a contribution, through sponsorship, grant funding, donations of plants/seeds or equipment we would love to hear from you at fundraising@liverpoolft.nhs.uk or use the donate button – don’t forget to specify ‘nature ranger’. 

Thanks to a generous £1 million donation from the Marina Dalglish Appeal (MDA) patients with prostate cancer now benefit from world-class surgery carried out by the latest da Vinci robotic surgical system. 

Mr Robin Weston, Consultant Urological Surgeon said: “Using the robot for prostate cancer is an exciting step. All our patients so far have been able to go home the day after their surgery, due to the minimally invasive approach, robotic surgery supports better recovery times and outcomes. We are hoping to also use this new system to offer day-case surgery for prostate cancer, which will enable us to offer timely treatment to more people.”

It is thanks to the generosity of our supporters that we are able to provide this ground-breaking equipment for our patients and deliver the best care possible for our communities. 
 

Adults with additional needs, such as autism and ADHD, who require surgery now have access to two sensory rooms, which have been designed to improve the experience of care for these patients.  

The sensory rooms boast specialist visual and sound facilities such as colour changing wall panels, plinths with fibre optic lights, wall projectors and interactive sound panels and special soft furnishings. They offer a relaxed environment specifically for adult patients with autism and additional needs, who are having planned surgery.

The rooms were named Archie’s Place after Becky Brumpton’s son Archie, who lives with autism. Becky worked closely with the Theatre Admissions Unit to help educate them on how small environmental changes can make a significant difference to those attending for surgery. The rooms are a fantastic addition to the Royal Liverpool Hospital and our goal is to roll Archie’s Place out across our hospitals.  
 

In 2024, the charity funded the purchase of 11 new renal dialysis machines to allow more patients to receive their treatment at home to the value of almost £200,000.

Some patients with chronic kidney problems currently come into hospital up to three times per week for their dialysis which takes around four hours. The purchase of the new machines allows patients to fit their treatment around their lifestyle, rather than sticking to a designated slot.

The new machines have helped to improve clinical outcomes for patients with increased engagement with treatment, improved mental health and wellbeing, plus a reduction in infection rates.

Andrea Williams, Home Therapies Nursing Lead for Nephrology at Liverpool University Foundation Hospitals Trust explains: “Dialysis is an extremely difficult treatment for patients psychically and mentally, mainly due to the restrictions it has on lifestyle. Home dialysis allows patients to undergo their treatment when it suits them, meaning they can continue to work, attend their child’s school assembly or other important event.

“That, combined with up to two hour waits for transport, takes a lot of time for patients, especially if they are travelling from far away. This investment has made a significant difference and the nephrology team is delighted to be able to offer choice for our patients and their families during a very difficult and challenging treatment regime.

“We are very grateful to the charity for supporting us with this donation and to our renal patents who put so much effort in raising the funds. They really do make a big difference to the lives of patients, their families and our staff who care for them.”

The Sunshine Group is a breast cancer support group for patients of Aintree University Hospital and The Royal Liverpool University Hospital, that helps women who are going through breast cancer from diagnosis, through treatment and beyond.  

The group is led by Ann Coffey and supported by an amazing team of volunteers who have each had their own experience with breast cancer. They meet monthly and they offer emotional support plus a range of activities including guest speakers, health trainers and days out.

The group works closely with and provides signposting to other agencies who may also offer support. Through trained, volunteer therapists, patients being treated at the hospitals are offered lymphedema hand, arm, feet and leg massages, Reiki and reflexology. Almost all the volunteers are breast cancer survivors who want to give back after coming through their own journeys.

If you would like more information about the Group, how you can volunteer, or how you can support their activities, please email fundraising@liverpoolft.nhs.uk

Just a £5 donation enabled us to provide 1,500 patients in hospital on Christmas Day and Hannukah with a small gift to brighten their day.

In 2024, 65 wards participated and took delivery of their gift boxes, baubles and fairy lights ready for the big day.

This inpatient gifting programme is active throughout the year to include all major religious and cultural festivals and we were so grateful to attendees at November’s Livercool Awards for their generous donations which funded 600 gifts!

You can fund a small gift for an inpatient this year, quoting 'Festive Favours' in your dontation detail Liverpool University Hospitals Charity