Health and wellbeing
Moving to adult health services
If you receive health care you will be more involved in the decisions about it from the age of 16. There might be a lot of changes to how you receive your health care as an adult.
If you need continuing health care after the age of 18, you will transfer to adult services. You may then see a different doctor or care team for adults.
In health care ‘transition’ is the word used to describe this move from children’s services to adult services. You will usually move between the ages of 16 and 18, but this should be planned from around the age of 14.
The health services who look after you should give you and your parent carers all the information you will need about the move before it happens so you know what to expect.
If you have an Education, Health and Care Plan, you should talk about your transition to adult health services in your annual reviews from the age of 14 or 15.
If you do not have an EHC Plan, it may be a good idea for you and your parent carers to discuss future needs with your care team and ask for their support with an application for an EHC needs assessment if they think you will need care and support when you are an adult.
The NHS provides some useful information about changing from child to adult care for autistic young people:
NHS: Changing from child to adult care
Moving to adult mental health services
Young Minds has useful information on moving from children and adolescent mental health services to adult mental health services. They also offer suggested questions to ask about the transition, along with understanding your rights and information for parents and carers.
Young Minds: Moving from CAMHS to AMHS
Transition from child and adolescent to adult mental services - a young person's perspective
Three young people describe, in an intensely personal way, how the transition from CAMHS felt for them. They discuss the onset of their mental health problems and their experience of transition to adult services, which they describe as scary, confusing, and ‘like falling down a cliff with rocky bits’.
What happens when you call NHS 111
Some people with a learning disability, autism or both do not know what NHS 111 is. This is a short film for people with learning disabilities, autism or both which shows:
- what NHS 111 is for
- what to expect during a 111 call
- tips on how to have a good 111 call.