What is healthcare transition and why is it important?
From around the age of 13 years old your team will start you on your transition pathway. Transition is where, as a young person your healthcare professionals will start planning your move from children's services to adult services. This process will ensure we think about not only about your medical needs but your psychosocial, educational and vocational needs.
It is important you feel empowered and confident in managing your long-term condition and your emotional wellbeing. This process will take you up to your 16th birthday when you will then be ready to move to adult led care.
When we talk about “transfer” this is when the children's team hand over care to the adult team within the hospital or your GP.
We know this can be a very daunting experience leaving a team you may have known for many years. It is important you feel part of the decision making that occurs through this process and you feel you have a voice.
Why transition matters
As you get older, your health needs and goals change. Transition helps you:
• Build confidence to manage your condition and treatment.
• Understand your care, medications, and appointments.
• Know who to contact and how adult services work.
• Plan for life beyond school (college, work, travel, relationships).
Our aim is to help you feel ready, involved, and in control.
Who we support
We support young people with long-term health conditions who receive care in our children’s services, including:
• Medical and surgical specialties (e.g., diabetes, epilepsy, respiratory, renal, gastroenterology, rheumatology, cardiology).
• Neurodiversity and learning disabilities (with reasonable adjustments).
• Complex and rare conditions.
Please contact sash.transition@nhs.net if you have any questions.
Ask 3 Questions
When you see your doctor or nurse, asking questions helps you understand your care and make decisions together. Here are three simple questions you can ask:
1. What are my options?
2. What are the possible benefits and risks of each option?
3. How likely are those benefits and risks to happen to me?
You can ask more questions too! These three are a great starting point for making choices about your health.
Young Voices Shape NHS Transition Booklets
We encourage you to use these booklets to help prepare for your move to adulthood. It may also be useful to bring the booklet along to your appointments so you can ask any questions.
When you turn 16 years old, if you need to come to hospital, you will be seen in the Adult Emergency Department.If it is deemed you require admission, you will be admitted to an adult ward.
Here is a link to the patient information leaflet that will hopefully help you with your stay.
We also encourage you to complete the feedback form about your stay. Your feedback helps us improve the services we offer you.