What is Transition in Healthcare?

In a healthcare setting transition is the process of planning, preparing and moving on from children's health care to adult health care.

As a young person with a lifelong condition (for example diabetes or epilepsy), becomes a young adult their GP practice and adult services will become the best places for them to get the right care.

This may feel scary but hopefully by being involved in the transition process a young person and their family will feel more confident and happier about the move.

Recognising the need for specific support for young people whilst they move between services is still developing in the NHS.

New approaches are being introduced including the provision of youth workers who can work with young people to enable them to:

- Be happy and have fun!

- Have positive friendships

- Meet other young people with similar health conditions and provide peer support

- Stay in education and/or employment and achieve to the best of their abilities

- Develop life skills

- Try new things

Evidence has shown that if young people are supported to thrive in their day-to-day lives they will be better able to independently manage their own health care needs.

However, whilst Youth Worker and Transition Nurse posts are being funded by the NHS the activities and opportunities that young people with lifelong conditions may need in order to be able to cope and thrive are not. This is where we need your help!

At any point in a young person's life in Dorset they might find themselves needing the care and support of the doctors and nurses at Dorset County Hospital.

In order to provide youth work and transition support to young people with lifelong conditions such as diabetes, asthma and heart disease. Dorset County Hospital Charity has created a Youth & Transition Work Fund.

What the fund will provide

Money raised for this fund will go towards supporting and providing activities, opportunities and life skills training to these young people aged between 13-25 years old.

As the fund grows and the NHS can employ more Youth Workers and Transition staff it is hoped that we will be able to support other young people who have need of the Hospital's adolescent services.

With funds raised the Transition team plan to deliver life and independent living skills, health management and employment coaching to young people with lifelong conditions in their communities across Dorset.

Depending on how much is raised the Transition Team also hopes to be able to provide outdoor activities and residentials for young people with lifelong conditions in partnership with local providers such as the Weymouth Outdoor Education Centre and the Springhead Trust near Shaftesbury.

How you can help

We welcome support in many forms: you can fundraise for us, or simply make a donation to the Youth & Transitions Work Fund.

Please contact us on charity@dchft.nhs.uk to find out more.