Alder Hey clinic reports ketamine bladder damage in children as young as 13

September 23, 2026 at 04:21 AM2 min

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Doctors at Alder Hey Hospital in Liverpool have treated over 100 children for ketamine bladder damage since opening the UK's first dedicated NHS clinic in May. Patients as young as 13 describe shedding bladder lining as 'peeing a jellyfish' and pain like 'weeing over broken glass'. The clinic receives about one referral per week from GPs and emergency departments in Cheshire, Merseyside and nearby regions.

Key Facts

Alder Hey Hospital in Liverpool has received over 100 referrals for ketamine bladder damage since opening its clinic in May.
Patients as young as 13 describe shedding bladder lining as 'peeing a jellyfish' and pain like 'weeing over broken glass'.
Of the first 60 patients seen at the clinic, 43 were girls.
The clinic receives about one referral per week from GPs and emergency departments in Cheshire, Merseyside and nearby regions.
Many children had been taking ketamine for a year or more, meaning some may have started when they were 12 or younger.

Clinic and Patient Profile

Alder Hey Hospital in Liverpool runs the UK's first and only dedicated NHS clinic for ketamine bladder damage in children. The clinic opened in May and has received over 100 referrals since then. Of the first 60 patients seen, 43 were girls. Many children had been taking ketamine for a year or more, meaning some may have started when they were 12 or younger.

Symptoms and Medical Impact

Patients describe shedding bladder lining as 'peeing a jellyfish' and pain like 'weeing over broken glass'. Prolonged damage can lead to incontinence or uncontrolled peeing, and even kidney failure. Prof Rachel Isba, who runs the clinic, says some children had started wetting the bed or having to go to the toilet more often and in a hurry. Despite its name, 'ketamine bladder' can affect the entire urinary tract, including the kidneys and ureters.

Rising Trend and Referral Patterns

Ketamine abuse in children and young people is on the rise in the UK. The Alder Hey doctors saw one young patient in 2023, nine in 2024, and then a rapid escalation in 2025, which led them to open the bespoke clinic in May. The clinic receives about one referral per week from GPs or emergency departments in Cheshire, Merseyside and other nearby regions.