Transfer to Adult Services
Some young people feel very comfortable in children’s services and they don’t want to move to adult services, while other young people feel ready to move onto adult services and want this to happen as quickly as possible. Feeling nervous about moving somewhere new is quite natural; your healthcare team should have lots of discussions with you about the changes coming up.
If your healthcare team have not started talking to you about your transfer to adult services and have not given you a timeline so that you can plan for when it will happen, don’t be shy. Take control and with the help of your parents/carers, think about whether you want to ask them the following questions. You may want to add some of your own:
- When will I be moving to adult services?
- Can I choose which adult service I move to?
- What is the difference between the adult service and children’s service?
- What do I need to know before I move to the adult service?
- Can I meet any of the adult service team before I leave the children’s service?
- Can I visit the adult service to look around? (This is sometimes called an orientation visit)
- Are there any young people I can talk to about moving to adult services?
Bardet-Biedl Syndrome Clinic
The team at the BBS Clinic will start talking to you about transition to adult services during your teenage years. You can transfer to adult services at any time from 16 years of age; when this will happen is for you to decide with your healthcare team and your parents/carers.
At the new centre, you will find that some things are the same whereas others are a little bit different. You may see some familiar faces at the new centre as some of the team work in both children’s and adults’ services. Your BBS UK Support Officer will be able to tell you all about the adult service and answer any questions you may have; they will also be at the new centre and will continue to support you within adult services.
