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Moving to adult health services
For young people with continuing health conditions, they will need to start considering transitioning to adult health services around the age of 16. This is a gradual process where choices will be made around which services will suit them best.
In healthcare, we use the word “transition” to describe the process of preparing, planning and moving from children’s to adult services.
Transition is a gradual process that gives your young person, and everyone involved in their care, time to get ready for the move to adult services and discuss what healthcare needs they will require as an adult.
This includes deciding which services are best for them and where they will receive that care. Transition is about making plans with your young person, not for them.
We understand that moving away from a team of doctors and nurses that your young person may have been with for many years can be scary but hopefully, by getting involved in the transition process, they will feel more confident and happier about the move.
Most young people move on to adult health services between 16 and 18. Sometimes young people move from a children’s health service to an adolescent service at 13 or 14 instead of moving straight to an adult service. Your child’s health practitioner will talk this through with you and discuss the best time to make this move.
Transition from child health services to adult health services will mean that your young person may start seeing a different team. They will be given more independence, where appropriate, and will be encouraged to learn about their own health, so that they can be more involved in their healthcare and decision making.
Your child’s doctor or GP should be involved in the transition planning process. They may become the liaison person between your young person and any therapies or other treatment going forwards.
Where a young person has continuing needs and an adult service exists, your health practitioner can refer them on directly. However, they should keep your GP informed.
Around this time of transition, health staff will begin to spend more time talking directly to your child rather than with you as their parent/carer, although you will still be encouraged to attend appointments with them if necessary.
If they are unable to make their own decisions after the age of 16, their health practitioner may talk to you as their parent/carer about undertaking a mental capacity assessment – which may lead to someone applying to become their deputy with regards to health matters. This is a legally binding process.
You or your young person may want to consider asking the about the following:
- What is the plan for my child’s transition?
- When are they moving to adult services?
- Can they choose which adult service they move to?
- What is different about the adult service?
- Can they meet the adult staff before they leave children’s services?
- Can they visit the adult service to look around?
- Are there any young people they can talk to about moving to adult services?
- What do they need to know before moving to the adult service?
- When can they start getting more involved in their healthcare?
- How will their condition affect their future education and employment?