Scotland's new world-class children's hospital has now proposed to let teenagers till the age of 16 be treated there. With growing Concern being repeatedly raised about the way young people are directed towards adult services as soon as they turn 13. NHS, Greater Glasgow and Clyde is considering expanding the age range for those to be treated at the children's hospital, and having suitable facilities to meet young people's needs.
The ideas are put forward in the latest phase of the board's consultation on the £100m hospital, The Southern General Hospital launched yesterday. The issues discussed were, expanding the age range treated at the children's hospital and improving the experience of patients when they transfer to adult care. Rosslyn Crocket, director of women and children's services with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, said clinicians, parents and children had raised the issue that it was quite difficult for children who are 12 or 13 to transfer to adult services at what is generally a crucial stage in their lives.Stating that the new hospital presented a good opportunity to address this problem, she said, that if the proposal went ahead, the design would have to reflect the needs older aged children. Plans to provide facilities for adolescents with mental health problems and with cancer have been developed in Glasgow. A spokeswoman for disability organisation Capability Scotland while welcoming the idea added that just as it would be inappropriate for 16-year-olds to be treated alongside 36-year-olds, it would also be unhelpful if they are now receiving hospital care and treatment in wards alongside six-year-olds. She feels that shift from children's into adults' services can be a traumatic experience. So an atmosphere of seamless transfer for young people with chronic health conditions to move into adult care could make a big difference.
