Preparing young people with neurodisability for transition to adult health services

Abstract

The process of preparing for adulthood (transition) comes at a critical time in a young person's life. When they additionally have a neurodisability, this needs careful consideration to ensure we support them to safely navigate to new services and not fall into the gaps between. This paper advocates for development of systems that can be tailored to individuals, suggesting models and processes which could be applied. Our focus will be on the healthcare transition and our roles as paediatricians in this process. This article shares examples of local practice including transition care plans, transfer clinics and the role of the general practitioner. Cases are provided to give examples of ways to approach transition and illustrate the importance of early planning, effective collaboration and the need for an individualized approach. The article also considers the role of Senior leadership within trusts, commissioners and the importance of hearing the young person's voice, to allow evolution of transition pathways that are representative of the ever-changing world of neurodisability.