Moving from children’s to adult health services

The short answer

Ask each children’s service separately when it expects to end, whether an adult service exists for the same need, who must refer, whether the referral has been accepted and who remains responsible meanwhile. Transition is the preparation period; transfer is the point when responsibility moves. Some young people transfer to an adult specialist team, while others return to GP-led care or do not meet an adult service’s criteria. Agree how the young person wants family involved, prepare a short health summary and obtain a written plan for prescriptions, monitoring and urgent concerns before the children’s service closes.

• Make a separate transition plan for every service involved.
• Ask whether the service will transfer, refer or discharge the young person.
• An adult service may use different eligibility criteria from the children’s service.
• Confirm who prescribes and monitors medication throughout the change.
• Let the young person decide how they want family involved wherever possible.
• Prepare for the possibility that ongoing care returns to the GP.