Child to Adult mental health transitions - a success story

BARNET, U.K. - Feb. 7, 2018 - PRLog -- At Ellern Mede Barnet, our solution has been to provide separate adult and child wards within the same specialist unit. As patients turn 18, they are able to make a simple move from the children's to the adult ward, staying in the same, familiar surroundings with the same clinical team, which solves potentially the biggest problem for young people – removing the need to actually move location and care team. By providing adult services in the same hospital, this has removed any anxiety about the transition, enabling patients to focus on their recovery.

This is good news against the backdrop of concern over how the wider health system manages the 'transition' of patients from Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) to Adult Mental Health Services (AMHS).

How the adult ward has helped patients

One Ellern Mede patient, 'Beth', said: "A year ago, as my 18th birthday approached and I was in hospital at Ellern Mede, I began to worry about where I would be going. Then, half way through the year, Ellern Mede opened their adult ward. The fact that I was able to move within the service, staying around the same people I'm used to has made the transition very much easier. It's alleviated the pressure around the inevitable changes that are coming my way as I prepare for my next step. I'm hoping to move on to independent living soon."

Peter Curtis, the Clinic's MD, said: "Although it's a small adult ward, it means a lot to the patients to whom we have been able to offer continuity and consistency of care in staying within the same building and with the same clinical team. It is our intention to expand our services and continue to offer this model of an effective transition service from CAMHS to AMHS."

For more information visit http://ellernmede.org/ellern-mede-barnet/