Transition for adolescents with long-term conditions: event to process

This paper maps out the evidence relating to quality and user experience of transition services for young people with long-term conditions. The review identified that good quality transition was universally seen as a process as opposed to a single event, supported by effective interagency communication and coordination, with the young person occupying a central place in the decision-making process. Conversely, poor communication and an absence of a designated professional to support the transition were barriers to an effective process. Gaps in the evidence base were most notable when concerned with the relationship between general practice, secondary care and social care. Overall, greater shared learning of the generic components of an effective transition process needs to occur across long-term conditions.