Cystic fibrosis: transition from paediatric to adult care.

There is a current caseload of 350 children with cystic fibrosis at the Royal Brompton Hospital, and adult caseload of more than six hundred. Approximately 100 young people aged between 13 and 18 will transfer to adult care during the next five years. The transfer process between services was identified to be in need of review. The initial objectives were to review current practice for young people ready to transfer from paediatric to adult care, and to assess the needs of the professional, patient and caregivers at this time. In June 2000, a new system was introduced to the families, which offered them joint transition consultations with paediatric and adult cystic fibrosis care teams. A hospital-wide standard for transition was approved. In June 2002 an audit of the transition clinic system indicated an improvement in the process of transfer from paediatric to adult care. However, further service development is required to cater for the challenges and individual needs of adolescents.