The health care of physically handicapped young adults.

It has been recognised for many years that the amount of health care received by physically handicapped young adults rapidly declines after they leave the paediatric services. However, little is known about their specific health needs at that stage of their lives, or how these needs may be best met by the statutory services. The results of this study indicate a considerable degree of unmet need and point to a failure by the Health Service to maintain a continuity of health care for young adults with physical handicaps. A policy is called for to set up multidisciplinary Handicapped Adult Teams, at District level, to provide a clinical service for all physically and multiply handicapped adults.