Children and young people are cared for by Children’s Services and paediatric specialities up to the age of around 16. As children become young adults they will start a “transition” to have their care taken over by adult services, becoming more independent and more involved in decisions affecting their health and care. Transition to adult services is a gradual process, and the teams involved in each patient’s care will work together with young people and their families to explain what might be different. The exact age that this transition begins may vary according to the care each young person needs. Most young people will have their care taken over by adult services by the time they leave secondary education.
