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

[Dodgeitornot]

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?

I was put on an adult ward at 15. That was in the 1980’s

Yes, but adults won't still be growing. Almost all 16/17 year olds still are.

I think it's more appropriate for a 17 year old to be on a mixed ward with other adults than on a kids ward to be honest. Like a pp, I wouldn't want my young children on a ward with 17/18 year old men.

Wow! Impressed at the bed next to hers.

When my 3 Yr old was in overnight there was no bed for me (but at least she had her own room) so I half slept in the chair and half curled into her bed with her.

I had my appendix removed when I was 17, so years ago now, but I was on a children’s ward. I don’t think I would have wanted to be on an adult ward, especially if it was mixed.

My post isn't really asking what people think or want tbh. I wanted to know why the UK seems to be the only country in the world that does this. If there are any others, which are they, because I can't find them.

It depends on the clinical pathway. At 16/17 years they are assessed for Gillick competency. If appropriate they are placed on an adult clinical pathway as opposed to Children and Young Persons

I was just turned 19 at uni and contracted meningitis. After ICU it wasn't a great experience to find myself on a mixed sex respiratory ward. All the other patients were male and very old. I was somewhat a novelty and it wasn't very calming being stared at or having bed baths with such an audience. Obviously, there were curtains, but you were meant to keep them open during the day.

But children under 16 can also be Gillick competent. It seems to be that as soon as you're 16 in the UK, you're plopped on an adult ward. I remember a poster here last year who was worried sick for her very poorly 16 year old daughter on an adult mixed ward with lots of old men snoring. She couldn't stay the night and couldn't move her to pediatrics even though she tried.

This is because very few hospitals have teen wards - many 16 - 18 year olds don't want to be put in with babies and conversely struggle with the adult wards. Most children (not all) 16 - 18 do not require specialist paediatric services and can be managed in terms of medicine by adult doctors and therefoe it makes sense for these patients to be housed on adult wards. However, as demonstrated on this very thread, this can be truly frightening for these children and we should be lobbying the NHS to make "young person" wards (16 - 19).

My question really is why? 16-17 year olds are still growing, still eligible to be seen by a pediatrician, can't vote, drink, smoke, have sex with someone over 18, get married, leave education. For everything really they are classed as kids. Why does the NHS force them onto adult wards? Why does no other country seem to do this? I'm not really interested in personal opinions on this, but really keen to hear if there is some historical reason. I know for a long time 16 year olds in this country were pretty much seen as adults, so is it that? And NHS policies haven't caught up?

Not the topic of the thread but a 16 year old is over the age of consent in the UK, so they can consent to sex with someone over the age of 18.

I think this is more an argument against mixed sex wards than mixed ages. I'm in my 50s and would hate to be in a ward with men. As a teenager, I would rather have been with women than children.

Having just been in hospital with a 16 year old son I can confirm he very much felt like a child , was scared and wanted me to stay with him while he was poorly. He'd have been far worse on adult ward , alone and vulnerable. It should be 18 in my view
He was kind to the younger teen who was in and they helped each other get by.

Is this new? I was on a teens ward within the kids ward when I was 16 (12 years ago now though).

In Ireland transfer from paediatric care to adult care occurs between 16 and 18. So there are 16 and 17 year old in adult hospitals.

Well I had a baby as a teen. I’d have felt pretty fucking odd lying 9 months pregnant with a 6 year old tonsillitis patient in the next bed.

At 16/17 you are physically much closer to an adult. I wouldn’t want a young adult in a ward with my children and I’m pretty sure they wouldn’t want to be there.

I just had to check, and you are right. I just read this:
once you turn 16 you can legally have sex with anyone else who is also over the age of consent, but sexting with anyone under 18 is illegal.

Bizarre you can have sex with an adult but not sext them.

Although I do disagree with mixed sex wards. But I think that’s a different argument really.

This has already been explained. Im not talking about specialist wards like gynae.

I agree with this wholeheartedly. I think parents of young kids don't realise this.

I've only ever heard of this in oncology. There's some fancy teen cancer wards with PlayStations etc in some London hospitals.
It would be really helpful if they had a 16-19 ward though. It's really scary being in hospital at that age, for both the child and parents.

I would have felt equally odd leaving my kids with a babysitter then going in for a tonsillitis operation and lying on a ward with preschoolers. Young adults are different in every way from small children. It’s more appropriate for them to be on an adult or teenage specific ward as they do not need specialist paediatric care.

Had my tonsils out at 13, so about 1990, and was on an adult ward. Hated it.

You're probably right but we would never do it in the hospital where I work so that's why I'm surprised.