Bringing Young People, Health and Social Care Professionals, Transition Champions and Policymakers Together Through Hybrid Methods of Participation: Creating a Space for Shared Understanding of What Is Required to Improve Young People's Healthcare Transition

Introduction

A multi-stakeholder conference was held in 2023, celebrating the achievements of the Burdett National Transition Nursing Network (BNTNN). The BNTNN had been implemented across England in 2020 to map the current state of young people's healthcare transition into adult services across England, and work with key stakeholders to coach them through making sustainable quality improvements to young people's transition services. This work was funded by the Burdett Trust for Nursing, following the success of an exemplar Model for Quality Improvement (QI) for Transition, which had been developed at a Teaching Hospital in England. The BNTNN consisted of a National Lead Nurse, four Regional Nurse Advisors based in host organisations in the four main regions of England, and an Expert Advisor for the care of young people. A research team was appointed to evaluate the impact of the BNTNN, leading the National Transition Evaluation Study. The BNTNN Lead Nurse worked in partnership with NHS England to provide national solutions to high-level barriers to the implementation of transition pathways.

Methods

Young people with long-term conditions have participated and engaged with the BNTNN since its inception, throughout the QI project and research through membership to the Transition Advisory Group. Young people, professionals, staff members and policymakers were included in our hybrid conference in March 2023. The BNTNN and research team brought these groups together to share learning from the 3-year project, celebrating and showcasing achievements in each region as a result of the expert advice and support from the network. Young people contributed their experiences of transition journeys into adult services, and policymakers reflected upon national developments. Provider organisations from each region showcased their transition transformation journeys, sharing successes and challenges encountered during the QI process. The research team provided an update, and was responsible for capturing content and discussions on the day.

Results

With 405 attendees, the conference provided peer support and guidance, and enabled connections between young people, health and social care professionals, transition champions and policymakers. The primary aim was to forge long-lasting collaborations for the benefit of improving health services and outcomes for young people.

Conclusion

In this article we highlight how it is possible to bring key stakeholders together through hybrid methods of participation, and how this enabled a shared understanding and a combined commitment to progress young people's transition services for the future.

Patient or Public Contribution

Young people who are experts by experience have been involved throughout this 3-year project and in the ongoing evaluation. Here we highlight the importance of involving young people, professionals, staff members and policymakers when creating a space for shared understanding of what is required to improve services for young people transitioning into adult healthcare services.

Trial Registration

NCT05867745 [ClinicalTrials.gov].