Top Tips

These ‘Top Tips’ come from young people who have already made the transition from children to adult health care services. They felt that these ‘tips’ would be useful to other young people who were thinking about or planning for the transfer.

Thinking About Transition – up to 14 years (approx.)

• Try to learn more about your condition, medication and treatments.
• Think about questions you might like to ask at your hospital or clinic visits.
• Use your phone to set reminders about hospital appointments and taking your medication/treatments.
• It is worthwhile thinking about how exercise, diet and other lifestyle decisions affect your medical condition.
• Talk to your parents/guardians about your medical history – this will help when you are older and you have to answer doctor’s questions.
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Planning Your Transition – up to 17 years (approx.)

• It is helpful to start taking more responsibility for your own medication and treatments. Know when and how much to take.
• It can seem daunting but you should begin to think about seeing your doctor or other health care professionals by yourself.
• Try to learn more about your condition and treatments and consider talking to others about them.
• It would be useful to start planning your ‘transition’ to adult health care. Ask your parents/guardians and your team about it – ask questions and express your concerns.
• Consider finding out the main differences between child and adult health care services – this way you will know what to expect when you move.
• Try to understand more about the impact of diet, exercise, alcohol and drugs on your overall health.

Making The Transition – from 18 years (approx.)

• Find out which adult service you will be transferring to. Try to arrange to visit or make a phone call to the clinic before you move – this way you will find out what to expect at the first visit.
• As you get older, you will be expected to answer questions about your medical history, medication and treatments - try to find out as much as you can and maybe make some notes for yourself.
• Give some thought to your first visit to the adult clinic. Consider the questions you would like to ask and maybe make a list to take with you.
• Continue to look after your medications and/or treatments – you will be better able to talk to your health care team by doing this.
• Think about your lifestyle choices (exercise, diet, hobbies, sport, education) –and the possible effects these could have on your condition. Aim to achieve a healthy match with your condition and lifestyle.
• If you can, start to contact your health care team yourself – arrange appointments, ask about medications and hospital visits.