Cystic fibrosis young persons clinic

When will I join this clinic?

You will join the cystic fibrosis young persons clinic you are about 14 years old.

When is the young persons clinic?

The young persons clinic is very 2 months.

There are 3 clinics a year here at Sheffield Children’s Hospital and 2 a year on the adult cystic fibrosis unit at the Northern General Hospital. All of these clinics are on a Tuesday afternoon at Sheffield Children’s and Wednesday afternoon at the Northern General. The first appointment is 2pm. We usually see about 6 to 8 young people per clinic. At these clinics teams from both Sheffield Children’s and the Northern General Hospital will be there.

Outside of these clinics you will be seen in routine cystic fibrosis outpatients at Sheffield Children’s.

Why is there a separate clinic for young people?

There are a few reasons why we have a separate clinic for young people:

To help you to become more independent with your cystic fibrosis care. For example:

• learn about your medication
• what your medication is
• why you need to take your medication

It will also give you a chance to talk about other issues including:

• smoking
• drinking alcohol
• sexual health issues (including contraception and fertility in relation to your cystic fibrosis)

It will give you opportunities to meet with the adult cystic fibrosis team from the Northern General Hospital.

Will I have to talk to the staff on my own?

Yes. The idea is that over time you will become more confident with your treatment and feel able to ask and answer questions about your physiotherapy, diet and how you are feeling in general.

At first you might like to have your parents or carers with you. After a while, maybe after 2 or 3 clinics you may feel confident to see the doctor, physiotherapist, dietitian and nurse by yourself.

Your parents or carers might like to go and have a cup of tea or coffee in the café downstairs or sit in the waiting area for you.

When you have finished speaking to the doctor your parents or carers will be invited back into the consulting room to discuss any changes to your cystic fibrosis treatment.

Who are the adult cystic fibrosis team?

They are at the adult cystic fibrosis centre at the Northern General Hospital and some of them join us in the young person’s clinic.

Their team includes:

• adult cystic fibrosis consultants
• cystic fibrosis nurse
• cystic fibrosis physiotherapist
• cystic fibrosis dietitian
• cystic fibrosis social worker
• cystic fibrosis pharmacist
• cystic fibrosis psychologist

When you come to the adult cystic fibrosis centre, the cystic fibrosis team from Sheffield Children’s is always there. During these joint clinics, Sheffield Children’s will be responsible for you care at all times.

By meeting the adult cystic fibrosis team on a regular basis over time you will get to know them so that when you move over to adult services after your 16th birthday, you will know them and they will know you.