Starting the conversation…
We will normally start talking to you about moving on to the adult services from when you are about 14, with the aim to move you in to our Transition Clinic at some point after you have finished Year 11. This will usually be some time after your 17th birthday but we will discuss this fully with you beforehand. The idea behind the Transition Clinic is to let you gradually get to know the adult diabetes team who will look after you once you have moved on from the Children’s Clinic. We run Transition Clinics eight times a year and they are held in Gateway E in the Treatment Centre behind QMC (across the bridge from the tram stop) rather than the Children’s Clinic. There are no pictures of Sponge Bob on the walls but they do currently give you free hot drinks!
How does clinic work?
The Transition Clinic is staffed by doctors, nurses and dietitians from both the children’s and adult diabetes teams, with someone from each team being in the room when you come for your appointment. For example, if you see one of the children’s doctors at your appointment, the adult diabetes specialist nurse or dietitian will also be in the room with them, so that you can get to meet them. If you see one of the adult diabetes doctors, one of the children’s nurses or dietitians will be in the room with them so that there should always be a health professional you already know at your appointment.
Everyone comes to the Transition Clinic for at least two appointments, so that you can meet all of the adult diabetes team members before you decide whether or not you are ready to move on to the Young Adult diabetes service. The doctors, nurses and dietitians whom you meet in the Transition Clinic will be the same people who then look after you in the Young Adult diabetes service and it is up to you to decide when you would like to fully move over. Some people feel ready to move on from the children’s team after two visits, others ask to come three or four times; it will be your choice. The doctors and nurses who provide the Transition and Young Adult diabetes services are all very experienced at working with young people and are easy to get along with.
Who do I contact between clinics?
Whilst you are in the Transition Clinic, you can access either the children’s or the adult diabetes teams for advice. The adult diabetes team do not provide 24 hour emergency advice but are available by phone or text Mon-Fri 08.00-17.00 but whilst you are in Transition Clinic, you can still ring the children’s emergency numbers at any time if needed.
If you are still in the Transition Clinic and need to be admitted to hospital as an emergency, you should be given a choice as to whether or not you are admitted to an adult or a children’s ward, even if you are 18 years old. If you are admitted to hospital, we will try to make sure that both the children’s and adult diabetes team see you whilst you are in, if possible. Our aim is to make sure that when you move over to young adult diabetes team, you are fully prepared and fully confident to do this.