MEDIA INFORMATION from
BAPEN the British Association for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition
Registered Charity No.1023927
Issued 2 July 2002
BAPEN CALLS FOR NUTRITION TEAMS IN ALL HOSPITALS TO IMPROVE PATIENT OUTCOMES as Royal College of Physicians launches its Report on Nutrition and Patients today(1)
"41% of hospitals in the UK currently have a nutrition team, a percentage that has increased by only 4% over the last five years,(2)" says Dr Alastair Forbes, Chairman of BAPEN(3)(4), "which means that most patients are still being denied access to key professionals with a particular expertise in nutrition.
Food and nutritional treatment are ignored by NHS Trusts at their peril, as food intake influences the health and well-being of populations, as well as contributing to outcomes for patients."
"There is clear evidence that patient outcomes are improved where nutrition teams exist in hospitals," adds Dr Simon Gabe, Co-ordinator of the Regional Representatives of BAPEN(5). "Appropriate use of nutritional treatment saves lives, reduces complications, promotes recovery and reduces length of stay in hospital."
Nutrition teams work to establish clear protocols and help maintain standards with regard to nutritional treatment. Establishment of these nutrition teams is one of the key recommendations called for in the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) Report Nutrition and Patients - a doctor's responsibility launched today.
"BAPEN welcomes unreservedly the RCP report," continues Dr Forbes, "a highly significant initiative that must help push nutrition and nutritional treatment higher up the agenda within NHS trusts, and throughout all the professions responsible for patient care in the hospital setting."
In addition to the call for nutrition teams to be established in all hospitals, BAPEN also welcomes two further key recommendations.
"BAPEN welcomes the emphasis on the need for training in nutrition and nutritional treatment for health professionals, both in hospitals and in the community and has long been committed to the principle, emphasised in the RCP Report, of the need for nutritional screening on entry into hospital to assess those at greatest risk from under- or over-nutrition," concludes Dr Simon Gabe.
"BAPEN's challenge is to work closely with the RCP and other relevant professional organisations up and down the country to turn the vision so powerfully presented in Nutrition and Patients - a doctor's responsibility into reality."
Notes:
1. Nutrition and Patients - a doctor's responsibility, Royal College of Physicians, London 2002. Launched on 9th July 2002 at the RCP. Contact Linda Cuthbertson at the RCP on 020 7935 1174 x 254 for further information on the Report.
2. Figures based on 2001 returns for the BANS survey, currently unpublished. Previous years figures published in Trends in Artificial Nutrition Support in the UK 1996-2000, A Report by the British Artificial Nutrition Survey (BANS) a committee of BAPEN, 2001
3. BAPEN the British Association for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition is a multi professional association and registered charity committed to improving clinical practice with regard to nutrition and nutritional treatment and to improving outcomes for patients. Through its multi professional membership - physicians, gastroenterologists, researchers, patients, nurses, nutritionists and dietitians - it encourages wide ranging dialogue, exchange and interaction. BAPEN offers members a newsletter, website, regional activities, national meetings and a website. Log on to www.bapen.org.uk for more information.
4. Dr Alastair Forbes, recently elected as Chairman of BAPEN, is Consultant Physician and Reader in Gastroenterology at St Mark's Hospital, Harrow.
5. Dr Simon Gabe, recently appointed as Co-ordinator of the Regional Representatives of BAPEN, is Senior Lecturer in the Department of Medicine, St Mark's Hospital, Harrow
For further information, please contact:
Rhonda Smith - e-mail at rsmith@gciuk.com or
Nicky Parnell 020-7072 4171. e-mail at nparnell@gciuk.com.
Out of hours alternative number 01264-710428.
Dr Alastair Forbes and BAPEN regional representatives around the country are available for interview. Call Rhonda Smith to make arrangements or call the regional representative in the area most appropriate listed below.
Note that BAPEN representatives are busy health professionals and may take a while to respond to your call, but they will endeavour to get back to you as quickly as possible.
Scotland
Dr Alastair McKinley, Consultant Gastroenterologist,
Aberdeen RI
01224 553628
N Ireland
Ms Sharon Madigan,Community Dietitian,
North & West HSS Trust, Belfast
02890 327103
Wales
Dr Campbell Edmondson, Consultant Anaesthetist,
Wrexham Maelor Hospital
01978 725955
Northern & Yorkshire
Dr Nina Polanska, Consultant Chemical Pathologist,
South Tyneside Hospital, South Shields
0191 454 8888 bleep 351
West Midlands
Dr Chuka Nwokolo, Consultant Gastroenterologist,
Walsgrave Hospital, Coventry
02476 538759
Southwest
Dr John Lowes, Consultant Gastroenterologist,
Torbay Hospital, Torquay
01803 654865
Central South
Mr Peter Rhodes, Principal Pharmacist,
Southampton General Hospital
02380 796090
Oxford
Ms Helen Hamilton, Clinical Director TPN & Line Insertion Dept, John Radcliffe, Oxford
01865 221653
Anglia
Dr Ian Fellows, Consultant Gastroenterologist,
Norfolk & Norwich Hospital
01603 288356
North Thames
Dr Simon Gabe, Dept of Medicine,
St Marks, Hospital, Harrow
020 8235 4177
South Thames
Mr Rick Wilson, Director - Dietetics and Nutrition,
Kings College Hospital, SE5
020 7346 3243