Young people with long term conditions
Young people with long term conditions may not have seen a General Practitioner (GP) very often or may not know the team at the GP practice, as care is generally provided by a paediatrician or specialist paediatric teams within local hospitals.
Primary Care
It is a good idea for the young person to get to know a GP as they approach transition.
The GP will help to link the young person with other adult health and social care providers to make sure they are getting the right care.
GP Surgery
GP practice teams provide a range of services and are often involved in long term condition management. A GP can provide confidential care, independently from a parent or carer.
Resources
You can visit your GP practice website to understand how to make an appointment in the future.
Prescriptions
Prescriptions will be free until a young person becomes 16 (or 18 if they are in full-time education). If the young person receives Universal Credit, they will have this up to the age of 20.
Free prescriptions are available as an adult if you have certain health conditions or circumstances. Check what help you could get to pay for NHS costs.
Young people with learning disabilities
A learning disability (LD) register is a list of patients with a learning disability at a doctor’s surgery.
The LD register helps the surgery’s health staff provide the right support for people with learning disabilities.
Benefits of being on a Learning Disability Register
- Free annual health care
- People over 14 on the register may be eligible for a free annual health check
- Invitations to vaccines
- People on the register and their carers may be invited for COVID booster vaccines and flu jabs.
- Reasonable adjustments
- Health staff can make reasonable adjustments to meet the needs of people on the register
Additional Information
Mencap offer information on joining the Learning Disability Register to get more support from a GP.
NHS England have produced a leaflet to help people think about whether their child or someone they care for could be considered to have a learning disability and should be on their local GP practice’s Learning Disability Register, to help them get the help they need.
Local Offer Information
From September 2014 the Children and Families Act requires all local authorities to publish and maintain a ‘local offer’. A local offer is a wide range of information about all the support and facilities which families can expect to find in their area for children and young people who have special educational needs (SEN) and disabilities. The information should cover education, health and social care support and services for children and young people aged between 0 and 25.
SEND Information Hubs
SEND Information Hubs provide children and young people with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) and their families with information about support and services in their local area including
What can SEND Hubs offer
- Early years and childcare
- Easy read information
- Education
- Getting help
- Getting involved
- Getting out and about
- Health
- Impartial advice and support
- Money and benefits
- Preparing for adulthood
- Social care, early help and targeted support
Transition from Children’s Services to GP Services
The transition from children’s services to a general practitioner (GP) is a process that involves developing a coordinated plan to ensure a smooth transfer of care.
Involve the GP
The GP should be involved in the transition plan, especially if the young person doesn’t meet the criteria for adult health services or there aren’t any adult services available.
Create a transition plan
The plan should be developed with the young person, their family, and all relevant services. It should include:
- A consistent approach to the age of non-statutory transitions
- A list of local services that can support the transition
- A selection for the young person and their family to provide comments and views
- A link to other plans for the young person’s care and support
Start early and be involved
The transition process should ideally begin around the age of 14, and build on the young person’s strengths. It should always involve the family and help build their independence.
Smooth transfer of care
The two teams should exchange detailed information before the transition takes place.
The young person shouldn’t be discharged from children’s services until their care has been transferred to adult services.
The age at which a young person transitions to adult services can vary depending on where they live and their circumstances. Some children may access aspects of adult health care before they are 18, while others may still be supported by paediatric services after their 18th birthday.
Useful Information and Resources
Offers are the place to find out about local services, support and events for children and young people aged 0 to 25 years who have special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) and their families.
The Local Offer is a way of giving children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and their parents or carers information about what activities and support are available in the area where they live.
The Council for Disabled Children (CDC) have produced a video which provides information about what a local offer is.
The Local Offer contains information for children, young people and families, and for adults. It brings together helpful and useful information located in one easily searchable website.
Bedford Borough Resources
Central Bedfordshire Resources
Luton Resources
Parent carer forums are groups of parents and carers of children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). They work with local authorities, education settings, health and social care providers to make sure that the planning and provision of services for families takes full account of parent carer views and experiences.