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Original poster

Why does the UK have 16-17 year olds on adult wards?

349 replies

Dodgeitornot · 17/05/2023 21:50

Just that. I've always been confused by it. As far as I know, most countries in Europe, or even the world, keep patients in pediatrics until they turn 18 or even 21. Why does the UK move them to adult wards so early? Isn't this a safeguarding risk?

OP posts:
Henddraig · 17/05/2023 21:55

You can get married at 16… and physically presumably 16 year olds have more in common with other adults, so don’t need paediatric specialist either. It doesn’t seem that odd to me.

shivawn · 17/05/2023 21:57

Oh wow, I'm really surprised by this. I work in a hospital in Ireland and we would never put 16 or 17 year olds on an adult ward.

Babdoc · 17/05/2023 21:57

Do you think they should be in a ward with babies and toddlers, containing toys and play leaders?! How many of them would actually want that?

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General health
HeidiUpTheMountain · 17/05/2023 22:00

Surely most 16 and 17 year olds are the size of adults, and are fully developed, so don’t need specialist paediatric care any longer? It must reflect their clinical needs, I would have thought. I had an operation at 14 in the 80s and was on an adult ward then, along with a 15 year old girl and women of all ages.

Original poster
Dodgeitornot · 17/05/2023 22:00

Henddraig · 17/05/2023 21:55

You can get married at 16… and physically presumably 16 year olds have more in common with other adults, so don’t need paediatric specialist either. It doesn’t seem that odd to me.

You can't get married at 16. You also can't have sex with someone 18 or over, or buy cigarettes or alcohol or vote or play the lottery.

OP posts:
TastesLikeStrawberriesOnASummerEvening · 17/05/2023 22:00

Dd was on an adult ward at that age, but luckily the hospital is all single, en suite rooms.
She wouldn't have coped with either an adult ward, or one with young children.
I'm not sure what the answer is.

delilabell · 17/05/2023 22:00

I'd not feel comfortable with my 6 year old being on a paediatric ward with 18 or 21 year olds.

I know that doesn't answer rhe question but looking at it from another perspective.

SmurfHaribos · 17/05/2023 22:01

A 16/17 year old in with babies/toddlers even 11/12 year olds etc They would hate it! Much more appropriate for them to be with adults. It’s not like they need play therapy or something.
The nurses will be aware of their age and will keep an eye on them.
They are medically competent.
All they are doing in lying in a bed, most likely watching TV or on their phones. Why would they need a children’s ward with all the toys and paintings of animals etc?

PamelaPamela · 17/05/2023 22:01

I think because they are pretty much physically grown adults (past puberty etc) so their needs are not really children's issues anymore.

Original poster
Dodgeitornot · 17/05/2023 22:02

delilabell · 17/05/2023 22:00

I'd not feel comfortable with my 6 year old being on a paediatric ward with 18 or 21 year olds.

I know that doesn't answer rhe question but looking at it from another perspective.

Your 6 year old wouldn't be on one with an 18 or 21 year old. Most countries only accept patients 18 or older onto adult wards.
How would you feel if your daughter at 16, still in Y11 has to be admitted into hospital, gets put onto a mixed ward with old men and you can't even stay the night by her side?

OP posts:
Original poster
Dodgeitornot · 17/05/2023 22:04

TastesLikeStrawberriesOnASummerEvening · 17/05/2023 22:00

Dd was on an adult ward at that age, but luckily the hospital is all single, en suite rooms.
She wouldn't have coped with either an adult ward, or one with young children.
I'm not sure what the answer is.

I remember being on a ward at 17. I had old men next to me, as well as old women. I wanted to run away I was so scared. I had disgusting old men ask me to feed them. No one was allowed to stay the night with me and I was too scared to sleep. It's petrifying and I can't think of any other country that does this.

OP posts:
Original poster
Dodgeitornot · 17/05/2023 22:04

PamelaPamela · 17/05/2023 22:01

I think because they are pretty much physically grown adults (past puberty etc) so their needs are not really children's issues anymore.

Not many people are fully grown at 16/17. Even on an adult ward, they are given medicine based on weight.

OP posts:
khaa2091 · 17/05/2023 22:05

Soyou think it’s more appropriate for a miscarrying 17 year old to be on a paediatric ward rather than being looked after by Gynae nurses?

Boomboom22 · 17/05/2023 22:05

Funny isn't it. In England we recently changed the law so 16 Yr old can't get married even with parental permission. In Scotland 16 Yr olds can vote and change gender, get surgery. In Ireland they want this too but a poster says they'd never put a 17yr old with adults.

Original poster
Dodgeitornot · 17/05/2023 22:05

It would be interesting if someone actually knew a reason for this and if any other countries also do this. I genuinely can't find one. Everywhere else seems to be pediatrics until 18. The USA seems to keep you in pediatrics until 21.

OP posts:
LotsOfBalloons · 17/05/2023 22:05

I was on a ward at 16 or 17 (after initially being in my own room in recovery). I was really scared as I had difficult parents who just left me and I really wanted some fussing care!

Boomboom22 · 17/05/2023 22:06

In USA you can't drink til 21

Original poster
Dodgeitornot · 17/05/2023 22:06

khaa2091 · 17/05/2023 22:05

Soyou think it’s more appropriate for a miscarrying 17 year old to be on a paediatric ward rather than being looked after by Gynae nurses?

No. A miscarrying 17 year old should be on a gynae ward. I'm talking about general wards, not specialist. My question is also why we do it, not what I personally think about it.

OP posts:
Boomboom22 · 17/05/2023 22:07

Surely medically once your through the peak of puberty adult ward is best? Anything else would be for other reasons.

Original poster
Dodgeitornot · 17/05/2023 22:07

LotsOfBalloons · 17/05/2023 22:05

I was on a ward at 16 or 17 (after initially being in my own room in recovery). I was really scared as I had difficult parents who just left me and I really wanted some fussing care!

They had no choice but to leave you. Visitors can't stay the night on an adult ward.

OP posts:
LotsOfBalloons · 17/05/2023 22:07

Although I had imagined it being like children's ward on tv tbf.

It was a traumatic time. I don't knownthat a cheery primary schoolesque nurse with her talking to toddler voice and a ton o!f crying babies would have been great either though!

LotsOfBalloons · 17/05/2023 22:08

@Dodgeitornot no I meant literally left me! They weren't there in the day either and they arranged for my grandparents to pick me up after I'd been in a week..

Original poster
Dodgeitornot · 17/05/2023 22:08

LotsOfBalloons · 17/05/2023 22:07

Although I had imagined it being like children's ward on tv tbf.

It was a traumatic time. I don't knownthat a cheery primary schoolesque nurse with her talking to toddler voice and a ton o!f crying babies would have been great either though!

I've never seen that on a childrens ward though. When my 15 year old sister was recently inpatient, the nurses changed their tones to suit her age. They didn't talk to her like a baby. They're not idiots. There was also a bed next to hers so mum could stay with her and advocate for her.

OP posts:
PamelaPamela · 17/05/2023 22:08

Dodgeitornot · 17/05/2023 22:04

Not many people are fully grown at 16/17. Even on an adult ward, they are given medicine based on weight.

Show quote history

But in any ward, the patients will be different weights anyway. People come in all different shapes and sizes

BarryShitpea · 17/05/2023 22:09

Ours doesn't, they have older single sex wards on the Paeds floor, if you're still In FTE you go there. Having been on exploratory and SAU mixed wards with men exposing themselves, I would not be happy with a 16 year old of either sex being on an adult ward.

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