The process, a partnership between the patient and, as appropriate, professionals in health, education and social care, begins when the patient is 11 or 12 years old, and ends when they are fully settled into adult services.
During this time the patient's involvement in decision-making gradually increases.
If you are over 14 years of age, and the healthcare professionals caring for you have not yet talked to you about healthcare transition, ask them about it at your next appointment.
Additional needs
Some young people have complex conditions and are cared for by multiple services. Some may have additional needs, such as a learning disability.
The aim is to support all young patients to be as independent as possible depending on their condition and cognitive ability.
Healthcare passport
If you have additional needs, the healthcare passport is helpful for you and for the healthcare professionals caring for you:
Children's healthcare passport - Oxford Children's Hospital
Ready Steady Go Hello
We use the Ready Steady Go Hello plan to prepare children and young people aged 11-14 years for the move into adults' healthcare services.
Please see below for information:
Transition: moving into adult care (pdf) - Ready Steady Go
Questionnaires
There are questionnaires on the Ready Steady Go website that can help aid your thinking about your move into adult healthcare services. They can be adapted for specific conditions.
You can download and complete them, and take them to your appointment, to help you and the healthcare professionals caring for you make a plan for your future needs.
Ready Steady Go - TIER Network
Adult services
After your healthcare transition you may be cared for in an adult clinic with the same specialty, either here at Oxford University Hospitals or at your local hospital.
For example, one of the following:
- Adult Congenital Heart Disease (ACHD) - Cardiothoracic Services
- New patients - Oxford Adult Cystic Fibrosis Centre
- Transition - Oxford Haemophilia and Thrombosis Centre (OHTC)
Alternatively you may be cared for by your General Practitioner (GP).
If you have mental health needs, your local community trust may care for you, for example Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust.
Clinics
The following specialties run clinics for healthcare transition:
- Adult Congenital heart Disease
- Cystic Fibrosis
- Endocrinology
- Epilepsy
- Haematology
- Oncology
Get involved
If you would like to be involved in developing our healthcare transition process, please fill in the form at the link below:
Initial Enquiry Form - Healthcare Transition Young People and Parents/Carers Group
Young People's Executive
If you are interested in joining our Young People's Executive (YiPpEe) for patients and their family members aged 11-19 years, please visit:
YiPpEe - Young People's Executive - Oxford University Hospitals