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?

Ummmm @DannyZukosSmile - you do realise most wards for the majority of departments are mixed these days? An adult ward absolutely would have men on it (unless it was obstetrics….though many would contest that these days🤣)….

But children's wards aren't just for 'bloody toddlers'. Until she 15.11 kids to a children's ward as standard.

Until age 15.11 that's meant to say*

Seriously, your son who is almost old enough to join the army, get a full time job, leave home and get married, (or live by himself,) cannot speak for himself in hospital, cannot converse with a doctor, and needs you to speak for him, and sit there comforting him.

Wow, just wow.

Now you are being ridiculous. Put the wine away.

Had my appendix out at 14 (ok long while ago) and put on massive adult ward, with many older ladies who were very unwell and cried out all night. I wish I'd been on a smaller ward with children, though one or two of the ladies were lucid and very kind to me. Things which stick in my mind were:

• getting my period unexpectedly and the only sanpro available was a ginormous pad the size of a folded up hand towel
• begging the nurse for sleeping tablets because of the distressing noises all night

At least it was single sex! I'd hope for better for young people now

100%!! Now I need to point out my son is autistic and an immature 16yr old. However I have works with teenager for many years both nd and nt and may of them would have the same issues. Especially in a hospital situation.
16 is a child in most cases, thankfully, as it should be imo. As the op keeps saying, come back to me when your child is 16 and see how you feel.
I lived alone by 16. I looked after myself. I was totally different to what my son is at 16, night and day. I didn’t have a choice. There are plenty others in that situation too I understand. I’m so glad my son is still a child at 16. It’s how it should be.

Pathetic and predictable insult spouted by someone who has no argument. As you were.

@Beseen22 That's the best explanation I have seen. It is basically what I suspected. It seems when NHS was started, 16 year olds were pretty much seen as adults. There's no money go keep the NHS running, let alone start including them into peds now. The 16-17 year olds fate is left up to each trust or even ward. I have family in Poland and Germany and I remember their shock when I was on the adult ward here. They couldn't believe it. It would just never happen there.

:( I'm sorry this happened to you. It's so sad.

Genuinely, i feel like your opinion on this will change SO much once your kids are teens.

As you say, an NT 16 year old needs their parent. That poster is really quite mean and lacks any level of empathy. I struggle to believe they'll feel the same way once their child is 16. Heck, even 12. She seems to think 12 year olds shouldn't be on children's wards either.

As I said, my children are much older - 20+ by the way, so the 'wait til YOUR kids are older' garble holds no water.

FGS can you not even be bothered to read posts properly. MY CHILDREN ARE GROWN ADULTS! Also, answer the question ... WHAT SOLUTION DO YOU SUGGEST FOR THIS AWFUL PROBLEM OF 16-17 YEAR OLD HAVING TO SHARE A HOSPITAL WARD WITH OVER 18S?'

I am SHOUTING so you CAN HEAR ME!!!

Why is it such a problem for 17 year olds to sit on a ward with a 20 year old (two people who will likely have been through puberty and be capable of adult level communication) but totally okay and in fact great for a six year old to be next to that 17 year old? When they will almost definitely be at extremely different physical maturity levels?

Why are you so angry? What am I complaining about? I think you need some air.
Re read my OP before you jump at my throat. I am asking why the UK does this. Most other countries in the world don't. You are extremely aggressive, rude and lack any empathy skills, so I won't be replying to you any more than this. I hope you're able to move past whatever or whoever hurt you. Your level of anger and lack of empathy is abnormal.

Then maybe you didn’t experience them having to be in hospital at that age and leave them at the door? Or maybe yours was one of those kids who just had to be that bit more mature and look after themselves?
Either way, you haven’t actually explained why you wouldn’t want a teenager in with your younger child. I have explained why I don’t want my child in an adult ward, I don’t see how it affects anyone negatively to have him on a childrens ward.

But they don't. Most adult wards are clogged up by extremely old people. If you were to go into hospital now, its far more likely for you to be surrounded by geriatric patients than anyone else.
It's also very unlikely for a 6 year old to be sleeping next to a teen. Almost all children's wards separate them. They also all have parents there so it's not like anything can happen. Theres far lower staff ratios too, so nurses are better equipped at dealing with anything. Besides, a 16 and 17 year old by law is a child. They have every right to be on a children's ward as a 6 year old.

@Dodgeitornot oncology wards often have units funded by the Teenage Cancer trust. We have a beautiful one, that takes the younger adults and the one at our other hospital takes the older ones. (Ours is barely used though)

That makes sense. I've seen some really cool ones on pictures. I'm glad they at least have a nice ward. Can't imagine having your youth robbed by cancer and being stuck with creepy 80 year old men..

I remember being on a ward at 17.

I was on a labour ward at 17 😂 I mean at 16 you can move out and live with grown men as flatmates. You can get a job and work alongside grown men. You can join the army alongside grown men etc. In this part of the UK you can get married and vote and are essentially an adult for all purposes except for when it comes to buying fags and booze.

The fact you were uncomfortable is surely down to the way those men were behaving and would apply to females of any age, so it's perhaps more of an argument for single-sex wards than putting 17 year olds who may well be living independently (and parents themselves!) in a cheery coloured room filled with children and toys?

This. ^ A voice of reason at last! Batshit isn't it?

Well clearly they do not, as they’re generally treated on adult wards. You would like them to be, but that’s not really the same thing.

Not sure what your teen pregnancy has to do with a really traumatic experience but ok..