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Thursday, 25 December 2008, 9:25AM – 10:25AM ITV1

In this exclusive documentary for ITV1 Coleen Rooney presents a behind-the-scenes look at one of the most famous children’s hospitals in the world at the most magical time of the year – Christmas.

In the hour-long special from Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool, Coleen gives viewers an insight into her personal connection with the hospital, takes a look at the important work of the staff and shares the excitement of the build up to Christmas with the children being treated there.

Coleen says: “Christmas is all about children, and the staff at Alder Hey work particularly hard to make Christmas on the wards an especially memorable one for all its young patients.

“The hospital is particularly special to me as my little sister Rosie is a regular patient here. It’s a place of inspiration and hope, full of Christmas joy all year round.”

Coleen takes viewers through the doors of the hospital to introduce them to a world full of activity as the patients and staff prepare for Christmas; hosting a nativity play, hanging decorations and wrapping presents.

In Coleen’s Christmas at Alder Hey, she meets up with her parents and her adopted sister Rosie, who suffers from a rare genetic disorder, and they tell the film why the hospital has a special place in their hearts.

The film meets some of the hospital’s other extraordinary patients like the baby born nine weeks early and the girl who survived 25 operations in a year.

There are special guests who drop in to visit, including Liverpool FC footballers and comedian Ricky Tomlinson who serves up Christmas dinner to the children.

The programme also meets some of the people who work there – everyone from kitchen staff to doctors has a special role to play.

And the film goes on a tour of the hospital, taking in the A&E Department, the day patients’ ward, the oncology ward and the cutting-edge research lab.

Every year 200,000 children are treated at the hospital. Coleen’s adopted sister, Rosie, 10, is among them. Rosie suffers from genetic disorder Rett Syndrome, a condition which means she can’t walk or talk and has to be fed through a tube.

Coleen, Rosie, and their parents visit a special light and sensory room at the hospital and explain how invaluable it is for children like Rosie.

One of the hospital chaplains, Sister Rosalie, helps take viewers on a journey through Alder Hey and, as she prepares the chapel for the nursery nativity play, she talks about her work supporting patients and families through incredibly difficult and emotional times.

Paediatric nurse Dave Delaney introduces viewers to the patients he cares for on the day ward. Dave explains to the programme that he always wanted to become a nurse but being teased about it at school as a boy put him off. After a series of jobs, he eventually revisited his dream and got a job as a porter before training to be nurse.

The film meets patients who have overcome incredible physical and mental hurdles thanks to the care they have received at the hospital.

Toni Allen, 18, was given an award by the WellChild charity after undergoing 25 operations in 12 months. As she makes a Christmas card to send to Prince Harry, who presented her with the award, Toni describes how meeting him made her feel like a princess for the day.
Baby Oscar was born nine weeks early and had to endure a 12-hour operation only two days after he was born to correct the problems caused by his early arrival. He and his family will be spending their first Christmas together at Alder Hey.

And, at the Gait Lab – which uses infra-red cameras and cinematic special effects technology to treat children with conditions that affect movement – cerebral palsy sufferer Alix Page is undergoing an assessment 12 months after gruelling surgery to correct her physical disabilities.

If the doctors are happy with her progress, she’ll get to go skiing in the New Year for the first time.

The documentary also captures the arrival of Father Christmas, as he arrives in an RAF helicopter to deliver some early treats, and visits relatives staying in the Ronald McDonald House, which provides a home-away-from-home for the families of the children being treated in the hospital.

And it takes a look at the important work of the Imagine Appeal – which raises money for vital medical equipment and research.

Coleen’s Christmas at Alder Hey is produced by John Kirby and directed by Carl Callum. The executive producer is Ray Bruce.