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26th October 2006

 

HOSPITALS MISSING TARGET ON REQUIRED NUTRITION SUPPORT TEAMS¹ - BAPEN ISSUES CHALLENGE

"Patients are being denied access to the best possible co-ordinated nutrition care – from food to specialist treatment - because their hospitals do not have Nutrition Support Teams (NSTs) or Nutrition Steering Committees (NSCs)," claims Professor Marinos Elia, Chair of BAPEN.²

 

Less than half of all hospitals currently have NSTs,³ the multi-disciplinary healthcare teams which deliver patient benefit by reducing the number of unnecessary treatments and preventing complications. The NICE Guidance Nutrition Support in Adults (February, 2006) states that all hospital trusts should have such a team in place.⁴

 

Elia continues: "Eight months on from the NICE published guidance on Nutrition Support for Adults and Hospitals are not acting quickly enough to set up NSTs and improve the delivery of safe and effective nutrition care and treatment for all patients who need it.

 

Patients should be asking hospitals whether they have a Nutrition Support Team!"

Research, first presented by BAPEN^{5 6} and supported by NICE,⁷ demonstrates that NSTs through their multi-disciplinary approach,⁸ can be effective in:

• reducing complications related to enteral tube feeding and parenteral nutrition e.g. line sepsis

• improving adherence to agreed nutrition support protocols

• providing quality training in nutrition support for ward-based nurses

• supporting the co-ordination of care between hospital and the community for patients on nutrition support.

"As well as delivering improved patient care and experience," continues Elia, "hospital trusts and the NHS benefit as hospital stays are shorter and treatment costs are reduced."

 

NICE Guidance also states that each Trust should have a Nutrition Steering Committee (NSC) as part of the Clinical Governance Framework, chaired by Trust management, with representation from catering, pharmacy, dietetics and nursing as well as the NST.

 

"BAPEN, as part of the development team for the NICE Nutrition Support Guidance, is pleased to have that Guidance in place. But what we and all professional and patient groups want to see now is action from Hospital Trusts.

 

Nutrition care and treatment – from food to specialist treatment – has been too low a priority for far too long.

 

BAPEN challenges all Hospital Trusts to ensure that a Nutrition Steering Committee and a Nutrition Support Team are in place or in development by 22nd February 2007, the first anniversary of the publication of the NICE Guidance.

 

This is the vital first step to ensuring that the best co-ordinated nutrition care in hospital - from good food to specialist treatment - is available and accessible for all."

Bapen06-1NSTs

 

Notes

¹ BANS Report, British Artificial Nutrition Survey, BAPEN, 2005
² BAPEN British Association for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, the registered charity committed to improving nutrition care and treatment in hospital, care and the community
³ BANS Report, British Artificial Nutrition Survey, BAPEN, 2005
⁴ Nutritional Support in Adults, NICE, February 2006
⁵ Organisation of Nutritional Support in Hospitals, BAPEN 1994
⁶ BANS Report, British Artificial Nutrition Survey, BAPEN 2005 p.35
⁷ Nutrition Support in Adults, NICE, February 2006, pp.56-62
⁸ NSTs may consist of doctors, dietitians, specialist nutrition nurse, pharmacist, lab staff and allied healthcare professionals

 

For further information please contact:

 

Rhonda Smith +44 (0) 1264 710428

rhonda@minervaprc.com +44 (0) 7887 714957

 

Lizzie Smith +44 (0) 1264 710428
lizzie@minervaprc.com +44 (0) 7766 467535

 

Interviews available - contact as above:

• Professor Marinos Elia (Chair of BAPEN)

• Dr Barry Jones (Chair of BANS [British Artificial Nutrition Survey] Committee of BAPEN)

• Hospital Trusts – various locations including London, Liverpool, West Midlands and Southampton

• BAPEN regional spokespeople

• NICE implementation team

• Age Concern England

Notes to Editors

What is BAPEN?
The British Association for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition is a multi-professional association and registered charity. Established in 1992, BAPEN is committed to improving nutritional care and treatment in hospital, care and the community.

What are BAPEN’s objectives?

• Increase awareness of and enhance understanding and management of malnutrition

• Establish a clinical governance framework to underpin the nutritional management of all patients, residents and individuals

• Enhance knowledge and skills in clinical nutrition and nutritional care and treatment for doctors, nurses, dietitians, pharmacists and patients through education & training

• Communicate the benefits of clinical and cost-effective optimal nutritional care to all healthcare professionals, policy makers, patients and the public

Who are Members?
BAPEN meets the needs and interests of doctors, specialist clinicians, pharmacists, dietitians, nurses, care managers and professionals, academics, patients, researchers, public health & policy advisers, service and support providers and commercial organisations with an interest in nutrition and nutritional support.

 

What activities & projects are run by BAPEN?

• Annual Conference & Regional meetings

• BANS - British Artificial Nutrition Survey

• 'MUST' Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool & its implementation

• MAG – Malnutrition Advisory Group

• NICE and intercollegiate liaison

• Training courses & materials

• Newsletter, Reports, Website

BAPEN Conference
The BAPEN Conference is being held at the Brighton Hilton Metropole Hotel on the 1st & 2nd November 2006 attended by c. 500 doctors, dietitians, nurses, pharmacists, policy makers, community and care professionals and representatives from industry.

 

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