Transition between children's and adult health services

Children's and adult health services are organised differently.

If your young person has lots of health needs, there may be many changes to how they receive their health care and support as an adult.

In health care the term 'transition' is used to describe the move between children's and adult health care team.

Young people move from children to adult health services usually between the ages of 16 and 18. It is important to start planning the move from children's health services to adult health services around the age of 14.

All children's and adults' services should give children, young people and their parents/carers information about what to expect from services during transition and what support is available. This information should be given before care moves across to adult teams so that young people and their parents/carers can familiarise themselves with the pathway.