Transition from child services to adult services
We want to help you feel confident living with your cleft
condition and to make sure that you have all the information that
you need to help you feel supported as a young adult.
As you become more independent and able to manage your health,
we will help you to do so by talking to you about the following
topics
- Who you can contact if you have any questions
- Taking control of clinic appointments by asking questions and
spending time with members of the cleft service by yourself
- Having more say in decisions about your health care
- Making the right choices and living healthily
- Any on-going care and treatment which you would like to
consider with the cleft team.
- Information and reminders about the importance of caring for
your teeth
- The genetics of cleft conditions and planning for a family in
the future
- Staying in the adult hospital
As a cleft service we routinely see you at age 10, 15 and 20
years old; depending on your age, we discuss some or all of the
above topics.
In the cleft service your care continues to be provided by the
same members of staff, the only difference is if you have to come
into hospital for surgery or other treatment. Sometimes you can go
home on the day of surgery and sometimes an overnight stay is
necessary. If you are a teenager under 18 years old you may stay on
ward Apollo 35 in the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, which is
a ward designed specifically for young people. If you have to come
into hospital and are 18 years old or older you will stay in the
Bristol Royal Infirmary, which is next to the children's
hospital.
Take a look at the Transition section of our website for more
information on what happens when you go from a child patient to
adult patient.
