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Caring for your health into adulthood

Caring for your health into adulthood is about knowing how best to look after yourself and how to prepare for any changes in the health services you receive.  Moving from children's health services to adult health services is a gradual process, starting around 13-14 years old and finishing by the time you turn 18. 

Preparing for a Healthy Adulthood Guide

Watch the explainer videos for the Preparing for Adulthood guide

The guide has been co-produced with health and care professionals, parent carers, and people with lived experience. The short videos below share practical advice and examples of how the information and tools within the guide can be used.

1. Preparing for a healthy adulthood -Introduction

2. Preparing for a healthy adulthood - GP Learning Disability register

3. Preparing for a healthy adulthood -  reasonable adjustments 

4. Preparing for a healthy adulthood - key health issues and health checks

5. Preparing for a healthy adulthood - lifestyle and wellbeing

6. Preparing for a healthy adulthood - Top tips

My Healthcare Passport and Purple Folder

My Healthcare Passport (ages 11-17)

You can fill out the My Healthcare Passport (pdf 330kb) if your child or young person is aged 11 - 17 with a learning difficulty or learning disability. It contains important health information about them, which can be used by health professionals to make sure that they access effective support. It will also help prepare them for the transition into adulthood.  

My Healthcare Passport front page 555x748

Purple Folder (ages 18+)

The Purple Folder is for adults age 18+ with a learning disability in Hertfordshire, and contains all of their health information. 

Find out more about the Purple Folder.

Purple Folder front page

Annual Health Checks

Everyone who is over the age of 14 and on the learning disability register is entitled to a free annual health check. Contact your local GP to ensure your young person is listed on the register.

Visit our Annual Health Checks page

What healthcare services are available to support you?

Mental health services

For information about the different services available in Hertfordshire to support young people's mental, health, visit our Services for Mental Health page. 

Help paying for the cost of prescriptions

You can get free NHS prescriptions if you are:

  • 16 to 18 and in full-time education
  • have a specified medical condition and a valid medical exemption certificate (MedEx)
  • have a continuing physical disability that prevents you going out without help from another person and have a valid MedEx
  • are an NHS inpatient.

You're also entitled to free prescriptions if you're under the age of 20 and the dependant of someone receiving:

  • Income Support
  • income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
  • income-related Employment and Support Allowance
  • Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
  • Universal Credit.
Check whether you're entitled to free prescriptions

You can also find out how to apply for a medical exemption certificate.

Patient Advice and Liaison Service

The NHS has a Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) which offers confidential advice, support and information on health-related matters. PALS can help you:

  • with your health-related questions
  • resolve concerns or problems when you're using the NHS
  • get yourself more involved in your own healthcare

You can also find officers from PALS in your local hospital.

The Learning Disability Nurses

Our learning disability nurses and health liaison team work with adults and young people to help them to manage their own health. This could include helping them to eat healthily and supporting them to manage their health in other ways.

Adult Care Services' learning disability pages have lots of easy-read information to help with your young person's health.

Herts Young People's Health Transition Service

The Young People’s Health Transitional Service helps and coordinates the transition process from children’s to adult services for young people with complex physical health or life-limiting conditions in Hertfordshire aged 14 to 21 years.