01/02/2010

New way of working with teenage patients

Teenage Rheumatology patients at Ipswich Hospital are benefiting from new transition sessions to help smooth the move between paediatric and adult care.

Liz Nash, Rheumatology nurse, is giving teenagers with diseases such as inflammatory arthritis and connective tissue disease, the chance to progress from children’s clinics to adult care more slowly and confidently.

In the past patients under 16 years old were usually treated in a children’s clinic and then moved straight to adult clinics when they reached 16. Now, they are offered new transition sessions where they meet the expert adult clinicians who will treat them in the future. It allows the adolescent patients to become familiar with the new clinicians with Ms Nash present as a friendly face.

Ms Nash said: “It is part of the normal growing up process to want to rebel and become more independent, but this can be a problem if it means ignoring their symptoms or treatment. These clinics have ensured that the teenagers continue to attend their appointments and have more confidence about their condition and medication.

“I get to know the patients from the age of 12 to 15. The aim of these sessions is to encourage the young person to be more responsible in looking after themselves. I make sure they understand their condition and the medication or treatment they are having.

“I try to see the young person on their own, with their parents permission, as it gives me a chance to talk to them about things they might not feel comfortable asking their parents about. I often have open and honest conversations about how their rheumatology conditions and treatment can be affected by life choices such as sex, drugs and alcohol. I also talk to them about their social and school life."