Charities have warned over the “cliff-edge” of care, particularly in mental health services

Children with mental health problems, asthma, diabetes and other chronic conditions will no longer be forced to transfer to adult services after their 18th birthday in plans to eliminate the “cliff-edge” faced by teenagers.

The NHS will stop automatically treating children as adults after they turn 18, to help them to make a “smooth transition” to adult care by as late as 25. It will see more services aimed at those from birth to 25 years old, with some describing patients as “young adults”.

Charities and campaigners have warned that children face the so-called cliff-edge of care overnight after their 18th birthday, particularly in mental health services.

They may find they are no longer able to see the doctors or therapists who have treated