CHRONIC ILLNESS IN ADOLESCENTS - TRANSFER OR TRANSITION TO ADULT SERVICES

It is widely believed that the improved survival of young people with chronic diseases will be associated with the development of appropriat e services within the adult healthcare domain. There is, however, litt le evidence to suggest that this is happening at a rate commensurate w ith clinical requirements. This paper highlights the multiplicity of b arriers that impede the development of transition services to facilita te the transfer of medical care from the paediatric to the adult domai n. Different models of transition care are described, and the terms 't ransfer' and 'transition' are differentiated. The clinical demand for service development is highlighted, as well as the need for specific r esearch in this area of healthcare delivery.