
Top Tips
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. Back to top ^
- 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.
Planning Your Transition – up to 17 years (approx.)
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.