Transition service for young adults with neuromuscular disorders

From the age of 16 years onwards young patients with a neuromuscular disorder will be transitioned from their paediatric clinic to adult services. This can be a time of great change as it is also a time when other life decisions are being made e.g. leaving school or staying in further education, work, learning to drive, or living independently.

Transition is considered a process rather than a one off event. For this reason we would start to liaise with you and members of your paediatric team from around the age of 14 years to understand not only your medical needs but also your hopes and aspirations for the future.  We also hold joint medical reviews with your paediatric team in the year before you join the neuromuscular clinic at St George’s Hospital.

Who you will meet

The transition clinic at St George’s Hospital is run by Dr Matthews*. She works closely with Pamela Appleton who is a neuromuscular care advisor*. Other members of staff that you may meet include a neuromuscular physiotherapist, an occupational therapist, speech and language therapists, dieticians, as well as colleagues in the cardiology and respiratory clinics.

Depending on your needs you may also be assessed by colleagues in other specialties e.g. gastroenterology, endocrinology and orthopaedics.

If you regularly meet with multiple teams we will aim to streamline these assessments and appointments to take place over one or two consecutive days and limit the number of trips you need to make to the hospital each year.