Clinicians at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust have published new research calling for urgent improvements to how young people move from children’s to adult mental health services. The study, which highlights significant gaps in the transition process, aims to ensure that patients in Peterborough and across the country receive more consistent support during this difficult period.
The three-year study, published in the Personality and Mental Health Journal, was led by assistant psychologist Lauren Green and colleague Jonathan Chun Luen Tse, and overseen by principal clinical psychologist Dr Ann Fausset. The team, who work for the Trust’s Relational & Emotional Difficulties Service, interviewed service users and staff to better understand the challenges patients face. Their research identified four consistent problems: the transition process is often fragmented, young people frequently lose trusted relationships with their existing clinicians, rigid service systems often fail to meet individual needs, and the overall move to adult care can be overwhelming.
These findings mirror broader national concerns regarding the gap in care for young people. A 2021 report from the Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch estimated that while more than 25,000 young people transition from children’s services each year, only 4% receive what is considered an ideal transition. Furthermore, a 2024 report by the charity Rethink Mental Illness noted that different eligibility rules between children’s and adult services can leave some young people without support exactly when they need it most.
To address these issues, the local research team has put forward several key recommendations. They are calling for children’s teams to do more to prepare patients well in advance of their move, and for adult services to provide clear, easy-to-understand information about the support they offer. Additionally, the researchers urge both services to work more closely together to create individualised plans that give young people enough time to adjust to adult care.
These recommendations align with existing guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, which suggests that transition planning should begin at least six months before a transfer. The researchers hope that by highlighting these systemic issues, their work will help improve the quality of care for young people as they navigate the shift to adult mental health services.
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