Transition Services

Phone:	(02) 9845 2446
Fax:	(02) 9845 2517
Location:	Adolescent Medical Unit - Level 1

What is Transition Planning all about?

Young people leave the care of the Children's Hospital by the age of 18 years.
Our goal is to ensure that they feel well prepared, to the best of their ability, to sucessfully manage their own health care in the future and have a good knowledge and understanding of their condition.

Transition from the familiar Children's Hospital setting to an adult health service involves a period of preparation and planning.  It is important to start planning early in adolescence. This allows time to talk about what future care is needed, where that care should be given, and to make sure that the young person feels ready to move on to an adult health service. 

Its also a time for families to familiarise themselves with their changing role, from primary care giver to advocate, allowing the young person (where possible) to take on more of the responsibility of managing their own health care needs.
Depending on their condition they may either, access local facilities, or continue to need specialist care in a tertiary adult hospital. 

Whatever the needs, our goal is to ensure that you feel well prepared to face the new challenges of managing your own health care.

Why do we need to transfer services?
Paediatric hospitals are not physically set up to look after adults.
Many adolescents with chronic illness are now surviving well into adulthood due to advances in medical care and improvements in technology. The equipment and care is designed for smaller, younger people, and paediatric facilities and expertise might not be adequately prepared to look after the psychosocial needs of a young person/ adult on the ward.
It is important that supported continuity of care is provided to prevent young people getting lost or dropping out of the adult health care system.

Services: 

Your health care team will be able to assist you in the preparation and planning of your ongoing health care needs and put you in contact with the adult Transition Coordinators.
We have a Transition Information Kit available from the Adolescent Medical Unit to help with planning and to help answer queries.

Transitional Care Coordinators (TCC's) are based in adult hospitals at 3 locations around the state. These people can assist you to transition to an adult health care team and answer queries about the adult health care system.

Westmead Hospital.
Patricia Kasengele
Ph: 9845 7787   Email:Patricia.Kasengele@swahs.health.nsw.gov.au

Royal Prince Alfred Hospital     
Lif O'Connor
Ph: 02 9515 6382  Email: lif.oconnor@email.cs.nsw.gov.au
John Hunter Hospital
Rebecca Harris -
Ph: 4925 7806  Email:rebecca.harris@hnehealth.nsw.gov.au

Upcoming Events at CHW:

Transition Planning Information Evenings

2010 Dates: 4th May and 21st September 2010

Do you look after a young person 15yrs or older with complex health care needs?
Or are you a young person wondering what happens when you turn 18? 

Take control and start planning YOUR future!
Come along to a Transition information evening where we can help you start planning for the move to an adult health care team. All parents, carers and teenagers welcome.

This is an opportunity for parents to increase their knowledge about preparing young people (>15yrs) to manage their health care independently, or explore options for those who will remain dependent on carers and family. 
There will be separate sessions for young people to meet others who have moved on to adult services and hear from young people about what they found important to know when making the move.
Meet the adult Transition Coordinators and find out more about the adult health care system and available facilities.

Resources:

If you're a young person requiring more information please click here.

If you're a parent or carer requiring more information please click here.

There is also a NSW Transition website for parents, young people, and health professionals, with a wealth of information about planning for the future. http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/gmct/transition

Related Services and Clinics

• Adolescent Clinics