Better communication and training is needed to improve healthcare for young adults and adolescents

Young patients told health experts that communication between young people and health professionals needs to improve in order to enhance the quality of care patients receive when they move from children’s care into adolescent care.

The group of 16 to 25 year olds who have kidney, muscle or joint conditions or have been diagnosed with cancer, said their experience in hospital could have been better if:

• They were told how and when they would receive test results

• Were provided with information on clinical and financial support, during and after diagnosis

• Older GPs were given basic training on how to talk to children and young people, including how best to communicate key information on their condition directly to them

• Doctors didn’t use jargon

The young person’s event organised by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and the Royal College of Physicians, gave them an opportunity to meet other patients and share ideas on how they can continue to help influence developments in healthcare for 16-25-year-olds who receive care in an adult setting, after this event.

A series of achievements will be taken from the London based event and will be fed into a larger programme of work. These achievements include:

• A report produced by the two colleges which has been influenced by young people to capture their experiences, challenges and potential solutions to improve their healthcare system

• To feed into the RCP and RCPCH advocacy efforts for improving the quality of healthcare delivered to young people receiving medical care in an adult setting

• A podcast filmed and delivered by young patients who receive medical care in adult settings

• A group of young patients who can help influence and support further projects

Marie, a 21-year-old patient, said:

“This has been really useful. It’s been good to meet other people who are sharing similar experiences to you. I really hope they take our ideas on board and use them in future projects to help shape our service.”

Representatives from the Oxford Young Adult Clinic – a pioneering rheumatology clinic based in a social setting outside of the hospital and used by 16 to 25-year-old patients - attended the event and gave an example of the benefits this one-of-a-kind service model has had in their area.

Patient and member of the Oxford Young Adult Centre, Robert Jackson, 21, said:

“Since the clinic opened, nobody who has had a kidney transplant has rejected their kidney. I hope other trusts see the benefit this centre is having in Oxford and roll it out country-wide. I think that’s because you’re with other patients who have the same condition as you so you remind each other to take your meds.”

Ends

For more information please contact Lauren Snaith, Media and Campaigns Officer lauren.snaith@rcpch.ac.uk / 020 7092 6067.