Transitioning to adult care from paediatric respiratory services

Transitioning from paediatric to adult care

This leaflet is to help you and your parents start to think about the future and moving or transitioning.

Don’t worry, changing to adult care means you can receive a more appropriate service now you are no longer a child.

What is transitioning?

Transition is the process of moving your care from paediatric services to adult services. This is done over a longer period of time, to ensure you understand your condition, treatment and are confident in managing it.

We start the process of transition at around 12 years old and build on this until we transfer your care to the adult services after your 16th birthday (and usually after you have completed your GCSE’s).

Transitioning will be discussed with you and you will be invited to a transition clinic. This is where the adult team will also be present in clinic. This gives you and them an opportunity to become acquainted and ask any questions.

You will also be encouraged to arrange a visit to the unit at Papworth hospital (or alternate centre) before your first appointment there if you feel this would be useful.

Do I have to transition and why?

All children have to transition at 16 years as you are no longer regarded as a child and a children’s clinic is no longer a suitable environment for you to be seen in. As you get older your medical requirements will change and cannot be catered for in a children’s clinic. It also gives an opportunity for you to be seen within an age appropriate environment clinic with more age appropriate faculties with staff who are more equipped to deal with your needs.

Where will I transition to, and do I have a choice?

Yes, the choice is up to you; it depends on where you live. Usually, people are referred to the adult respiratory services at Addenbrookes hospital or Papworth hospital, depending on which respiratory condition you have. If you feel this is not where you wish to have your adult care transferred to then please feel free to discuss this with the respiratory team.

What happens if I leave home?

If you move away from home then the adult respiratory nurse can find you another respiratory centre near your new home and will contact them to transfer your care.

What do I need to do to prepare?

There are a few things that are worth practicing doing over the next few years without relying on your parents.

• Learn about the respiratory condition you have, so that you understand what it means for you. If you don’t know ASK the team
• Learn the names of the medicines you are taking and the reasons for taking them.
• Learn how to order repeat prescriptions when you are running low of your medicines
• If you take inhalers:
  • Understand how to use the inhalers correctly.
  • Understand when they are nearly empty and what to do
• If you do chest physio (air way clearance):
  • Learn what chest physiotherapy is and why it’s important
  • Can you do it by yourself?
• If you use a nebuliser:
  • Learn to make up your nebuliser solutions and put your nebuliser together
• Coming to clinic and contacting the respiratory team
  • Start to see members of the medical team by yourself to begin with and your parents join later.
  • Call or email the respiratory nurse yourself with questions
• Learn the importance of healthy eating
• Learn about the importance of regular exercise
• Learn about why smoking / vaping / illicit drugs would not be good for your lungs

How does transitioning happen?

We will start to talk about transition when you are about 13 years of age. You will be booked into a transition clinic for several visits up to the point at which you are actually transferred to adult care. At your transition clinic appointments, you will have an opportunity to meet the adult team and get to know them. We will encourage you to take more responsibility for your own care. At one of your clinic visits near your 16th birthday we will discuss when you transition to adult services, but we will not send your transition paperwork to the relevant adult respiratory team until you are 16 and have completed your GCSE exams. Once you have an appointment with your adult respiratory team there will be no need to attend any further appointments with us.

Can my parents still come with me to appointments?

Anyone is allowed to join you in clinic, but the adult team will increasingly expect you to be able to answer their questions and generally chat to them yourself. You can continue to attend clinic with a friend or family member for as long as you require it.

Will they know me at these new clinics?

Yes. We will send a detailed letter to the adult team before your first appointment so that they will know you and are then to talk to you about the future, your plans and your care.

Do these clinics have the same staff as I’m used to?

All adult clinics have the same multi-disciplinary teams you are used to.

Contacts / Further information

• Clinical Nurse Specialists: 01223 388105
• Lung Defence email (opens in a new tab)
• Asthma email (opens in a new tab)

Useful links

• The East of England Severe Asthma Network | CUH (opens in a new tab)
• Cambridge Centre for Lung Infection (CCLI) : Royal Papworth Hospital (opens in a new tab)
• The Lung Defence Clinic : Royal Papworth Hospital (opens in a new tab)