The Queen's Nursing Institute (QNI) has launched a new project to support young people with long-term conditions transition from paediatric to adult healthcare services.
The two-year project will look to create a comprehensive programme to support community and primary care nurses in their role in this area. It will investigate the needs of the workforce and decide on the most appropriate resources and learning materials for them. It wil also develop and test a transition of care pathway to identify the best way to support young people.
The project will be led by Queen's Nurse Candice Pellett OBE and will be funded by the Burdett Trust for Nursing.
'The project has really struck a chord with colleagues that I have met, mostly from a professional perspective but sometimes from personal experience fo being a patient. Nurses have a pivotal role to play in supporting young people to transition smoothly between paediatric and adult services, and this new project will enable them to do this more effectively,' said Ms Pellett.
The QNI states that there is currently limited evidence around the importance and risks of this transition period particularly in primary and community care.
During the first phase of the project, a questionnaire will be circulated to nurses and focus groups in several regional areas will be arranged in the coming months.
If you are interested in being involved in this work, then email Candice.Pellett@qni.org.uk or call 020 7549 1402.