Moving to adult health services

Moving to adult health services

You should start thinking about what health services you need as an adult when you are 14.

If you have an education, health and care plan (EHCP), your Year 9 annual review will focus on preparing for adult life. This will help you to move from children’s health services to adult health services.

Your transition into adult health services will finish when you turn 18. This is when you become an adult. The services that support you might change once you are an adult.

You will get the support to develop the skills and confidence to look after your health when you become an adult.

Your doctor and specialist teams that work with you, should talk about your transition to adult health services and how to:

• learn about your condition and treatment
• gain the confidence to ask questions and be involved in decisions about your care
• know when to get help and who to contact in an emergency

Other services will arrange appointments with your new health worker and your current one so that you can meet them and they can be clear about your needs and plans.

Paediatric, hospital, and community nursing services

Paediatricians treat health conditions that affect children and young people. If Paediatricians are involved in your care, your parents and carers should talk to them about your transition to adult health services.

Moving to adult health services means you may start seeing a different team at your local hospital or health and social services department.

It is important everyone involved in your care understands the process and feels supported and prepared.

You should not be moved from children's health services until:

• your care has been transferred to adult health services
• there has been a detailed exchange of information

Your paediatrician will provide support across specific teams that are included in your care, this could be in cardiology, genetics and orthopaedics.

The Community Team for People with a Learning Disability (CTPLD)

When you become an adult, CTPLD can give you advice about treatments and therapies including:

• occupational therapy
• physiotherapy
• speech and language therapy
• behaviour concerns or anxiety

They also work with social workers and social service assessment officers to make sure you are getting the best support possible. You can refer yourself, or your family or health professional can refer you to CTPLD.

Find out more about how CTPLD can support you on the NHS Berkshire Healthcare website.

The Ready Steady Go programme

Some of our Berkshire West health services use a programme called Ready Steady Go: Hello to adult services.

The programme is for any young person who has been diagnosed with a long-term condition. It provides easy-to-understand guides and resources to help you gain the knowledge and skills to manage your long-term condition as you move into adult health services.

Watch the Ready, Steady, Go video on supporting the transition to adult care on YouTube.

If a young person is not able to make their own decisions

If you are caring for a young person who is approaching the age of 16 and who is unable to make some decisions, there's guidance for you.

Royal Berkshire Hospital has produced a leaflet with information on preparing for adulthood and decision making.

If you have a continuing care package

The Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board (ICB) will support your transition into adult health services. They will work with you and other services involved in your care to find the best way to support you.

Before you turn 18 years old:

• your care support will be reviewed to make sure you are supported in the best way into adulthood
• you will be referred to the NHS Continuing Healthcare Team

If you no longer require support from the Continuing Healthcare Team, your care needs will be transferred to adult social care for assessment.

Find out more about the children and young people’s continuing care national framework on GOV.UK.

Wheelchairs and mobility

If you need a new wheelchair, or if you need adjustments made to the wheelchair you already have, visit the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust Wheelchair Clinic web page.