Young people with complex physical and mental health needs are being let down as they move from children's to adult services, with many experiencing an abrupt cut-off in support rather than a planned handover, an expert panel has found.

The report, published on 6 November by the Health and Social Care Committee's Independent Expert Panel, says young people "experience an abrupt cut-off rather than a planned, individualised transition" between the ages of 16 and 18. One young person interviewed described support ending at 18 as "like falling off a cliff edge".

No one clearly in charge

The panel found "unclear accountability" across integrated care boards, councils, schools, primary care and provider services, which it said "can leave responsibility for coordinating and completing transitions poorly defined".

Primary care is not always "sufficiently involved" in the transition, the panel concluded, and GPs lack the information they need to support young people moving to adult services.

Planning should start in Year 9

The Law Commission has said planning to transfer children with long-term health conditions and complex needs to adult social care should begin in Year 9, when pupils are 13 or 14. But the panel found an absence of national data showing how many young people actually begin the transition in Year 9, making it difficult to identify gaps, track progress and hold services to account. The Department for Education has delayed its response to the Law Commission until the end of 2026.

Professor Dame Jane Dacre, chair of the panel, said the evidence shows young people with the most complex needs "are routinely let down by poor coordination and planning from the numerous services they rely on". The committee will hold an evidence session on the findings later this year and publish a report with recommendations to the government.