A key topic at our latest Youth Forum meeting was Transition – when people aged 16 and over move to adult hospital services.

The session also gave Clinical Nurse Manager for Children's Outpatient and Rainbow Child Development Services, Katie Booth, food for thought about what living with a long-term condition as a child means.

Katie said: “We talked about what Transition meant to our attendees. They said that when thinking about growing up, their priorities were school, college, work and money, with healthcare often overlooked. 

“The majority of our attendees didn't realise they would need to attend different hospital departments when they turned 16. So our Transition Specialist, Nurse Jill Priestley, will be looking at how we can use this to improve awareness.” 

Other topics for discussion included social media and health and wellbeing. They also had fun too, with activities led by Ryan and Lizzie from our BLOSM Team. Thanks to our NHS Charity who provided the pizzas.

Katie added: “A very brave 15-year-old also shared a poem about living with a long-term condition of Diabetes. It gave me goose bumps and helped me to see what her condition means to her.”

Diabetes

My life with you is hell.

Sky ruby red, fire falling all around me isolating me in a solitary room.

Ripping me away from my family.

You’ve robbed my last chance childhood away.

I scream in pain, I cry for help, but all you do is ignore my echoes.

You hit me hard and knock me down.

You hit me hard and keep me down.

You hit me hard and never relieve me.

You control me and never allow me to breath.

You are attached to me like a stalker watching every move, killing the mood.

You’ve created me a mask hiding the intense pain you create.

I watch from afar as you take our sleep.

I watch you rip my family’s hearts apart.

My family constantly panicking, worrying bout me when they have bigger priorities.

You take control over every little thing I do.

You steal my freedom and won’t let me do what I want.

This is what makes us, us.