Bridging the Gap: Streamlining Transition to Adult Services

Darren Meade is a nationally qualified youth worker with over 27 years of experience supporting young people across a wide range of health and community settings. He has previously worked on the Teenage Cancer Unit at St James’s University Hospital and is currently embedded within the Paediatric and Young Adult Diabetes Team at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

Darren’s work focuses on using youth work principles to engage young people living with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, particularly around improving clinic attendance and easing the transition to adult services. In 2024, he completed a master’s degree in Youth Work and Community Development, producing a research paper that explored how youth work can help reduce ‘Did Not Attend’ (DNA) rates and enhance the transition experience for young patients. He plans to publish these findings in 2025 and is preparing to undertake PhD research to further examine this important intersection of youth work and healthcare.

Based in Leeds, Darren balances his professional dedication with an ongoing (and often humorous) battle to tame his garden—an endeavour that keeps him grounded and growing in more ways than one.

Holly O’Connor serves as the Lead Transition Nurse for NHS Humber Health Partnership, where she spearheads the coordination of patient transitions between hospital and community care. In this role, Holly oversees the implementation of streamlined discharge pathways, prioritising patient safety, continuity of care, and efficient handovers. She collaborates with multidisciplinary teams—including ward staff, social services, and community providers—to ensure patients experience seamless and supported transitions throughout their care journey.

Drawing from her clinical experience and dedication to professional development, Holly actively supports the education and mentorship of junior nursing staff. She champions quality improvement initiatives aimed at enhancing patient flow and reducing readmissions across the Humber region. Her strategic work contributes to NHS Humber Health Partnership’s goals of innovative, patient-centred care and strong community integration.

Siobhan Weaver is a nationally recognised children’s nurse, clinical leader, and strategic thinker in the field of SEND, transitions, and complex care. With over 25 years’ experience, she is currently the Designated Clinical Officer for SEND and Clinical Lead for Children with Complex Needs in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. Her work spans assurance, co-production, commissioning, and quality improvement across health and education systems.

Siobhan is known for her reflective and values-led approach to care, challenging traditional constructs of “transition” and advocating for a return to the artistry of nursing — where compassion, humility, and relational practice are central. She brings a strong voice to national conversations on developmentally appropriate care and system design that holds, rather than fragments, young people’s experiences.

In 2023, she was awarded the Chief Nursing Officer for England’s Silver Award for her outstanding contributions to children with disabilities and SEND.

Bethan Williams is the Transition Lead at Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust, where she plays a central role in managing patient transitions between care settings. Drawing on her experience in clinical coordination and quality improvement, Bethan develops and implements streamlined pathways to support safe, timely hospital discharges and transfers. She collaborates closely with multidisciplinary teams—from inpatient wards to community partners—to ensure seamless continuity of care.

In addition to her transition role, Bethan contributes to the Trust’s broader improvement and transformation initiatives. She supports the embedding of quality improvement methodologies across the organisation, empowering staff and patients to engage in sustainable change efforts 

Bethan’s work enhances clinical governance, improves patient flow, and strengthens integration between acute and community health services—ensuring high‑quality care throughout the care journey.

Cillian Gray is the Lead Cardiac Adolescent and Transition Clinical Nurse Specialist at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust. With over 15 years of experience in healthcare across Ireland, Australia, and the UK, Cillian brings international insight and clinical expertise to his practice.

A qualified cardiac and respiratory intensive care nurse, he is currently completing a master’s degree in cardiac nursing. In his specialist role, Cillian supports adolescents with congenital heart disease as they prepare to transfer from paediatric to adult services. His work focuses on promoting long-term follow-up, building self-management skills, and empowering young people to take ownership of their health.

Cillian also brings a unique and personal perspective to his role—born with congenital heart disease, he has navigated the transition journey himself. This lived experience informs his empathetic and practical approach to transition care, helping improve outcomes for every young person in his care.