Moving from children's to adult health services

A health worker will discuss whether a young person may need care and treatment from adult health services. Discussions will usually start when a young person is between 14 and 16 years old.

Where young people are going to move into adult services, both children's and adults service health workers will work together to plan this transition.

Use the following links for more information:

• Information on transitions from children's to adult services - Dorset County Hospital
• NHS - transition to adult mental health services
• Resource - a checklist to a good transition

Part of the transition process will include a meeting, which young people and their families will be invited to, this is when children and adult health services discuss the future health care.

Please see NHS continuing healthcare.

Parents or carers may have been really important and involved in young people’s care when they are under 18 and in the process of transition, parents may still be very involved in their care. As an adult however, young people can have responsibility for their:

• own decisions, (subject to mental capacity)
• treatment

and how much information is shared about them.

Young people and their families will be supported to understand and be partners in the transition from children's to adult’s health services.