Information on the young adult service

Transferring to adult services can be an anxious time for you and your family, however the young adult service team are on-hand to support you through the process.

The transition will involve planning, preparing and moving from children’s healthcare services to adult healthcare services. The length of this process depends on your needs and your family’s needs.

A timeline for the transition will be agreed between you and your consultants – both from the Birmingham Children’s Hospital (BCH) and the adult services at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham (QEHB).

Young adult renal clinic

A video for young adults providing information on the similarities and differences between paediatric and adult care.

Similarities and differences in paediatric and adult care.

There are differences between the treatment at the Children's Hospital and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham.

You will have a number of transition meetings at both hospitals to help you prepare for those changes.

The main change you should expect is that staff will be helping you to take greater control of the treatment for your condition.

In consultation with staff, you will increasingly be expected to make decisions on taking your medication and treatments without your parents, and as you gain greater independence, you may find that the staff you meet in adult care spend less time with you than at the Children’s Hospital.

That doesn't mean that we don't care as much, but if we think that you are comfortable and safe, we'll leave you alone more.

You'll find that the clinics follow a similar pattern to those at the Children's.

You should expect to be in hospital just as often as when you were treated at the Children's Hospital.

Your parents can come with you if you wish and can stay if you need to be admitted.

You will find blood tests are quicker here, so you will be waiting for less time for your results.

We will only contact you if you find there's something to be concerned about in your blood tests.

You can also have access to your blood and other results on the Trust My Health Online system.

You can ask your consultant about signing up for this.

What is a young person's clinic?

When you are around 16 years old, your consultant will refer you to adult services. You will be seen at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham (QEHB), and staff from Birmingham Children's Hospital (BCH) will also join you. This will include consultants, nurses and support staff. This will mean that the doctors and nurses at QEHB can learn more about you from both you and your team. Your care will remain under BCH until you and your teams agree to transfer your care to QEHB.

At the clinic you will meet your new nephrology (kidney) doctors, nurses, youth worker, pharmacist and psychologist.

Clinics

The clinics at QEHB follow a similar pattern to those at BCH. When you arrive, you will be greeted by a receptionist. You will then be asked to provide a urine sample and wait in the waiting room. You will then be called by the nursing staff who will measure your blood pressure and weight.

You will also have a blood test and then be asked to wait to be called by your doctor. You will be introduced to other members of the team.

Blood tests

Your blood tests will be taken by a nurse who can answer any fears or concerns you may have about the process. If you have had a transplant, you may be asked about when you last took your anti-rejection medication.

How do I get my blood results?

At QEHB you can have access to your own health records, including your blood results, through a system called ‘My Health’. You will be offered this service when you come to your first clinic.

There is an additional service called ‘Renal Patient View’ where you can view your blood results from Birmingham Children’s Hospital (BCH), Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham (QEHB), and some other hospitals. This can also be set up for you at QEHB.

We do not routinely contact you about your blood results after the clinic, but will telephone you if there are any changes.

Repeat prescriptions

Once transferred to Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham (QEHB), your regular anti-rejection medication will be issued to you at your clinic visit. At present, they will not be automatically delivered to you.

If you have any concerns regarding your medication supply, please call our dedicated Transplant Pharmacist via the hospital switchboard:

0121 371 2000

Who can help me get ready to transfer?

Your kidney team, from Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham (QEHB) and Birmingham Children’s Hospital (BCH), will help you move from a children to adult setting. We will provide you with support and information in order for this to happen as smoothly as possible.

We can help you get ready for clinics within an adult setting by:

teaching you about your condition, its treatment and possible side effects
building your confidence
making sure you know where and when to get help, and who to contact in an emergency
helping you to understand how your condition might affect your future education and career plans
making sure you know about the support networks that are available
making sure you understand the importance of a healthy lifestyle, including exercise, diet, smoking and sex

Transition tours

Transition tours are arranged so you can view the hospital including wards, renal outpatients and the dialysis unit (if needed).

Please contact us via the telephone numbers below if you would like a tour.

Contacts

Last reviewed: 12 April 2024

Young adult renal clinic

What is a young person's clinic?

Clinics

Blood tests

How do I get my blood results?

Repeat prescriptions

Who can help me get ready to transfer?

Transition tours

Contacts

Young adult support nurse

Youth worker

Young adult consultant secretaries

Other websites

Our emergency departments (A&Es) are very busy at the moment