What made you apply for your role of BSPGHAN representative?
BSPGHAN is a Core Group of BAPEN with shared aims and ethos. It has a role in promoting research and training, and supporting the management of children with complex nutritional needs. Working collaboratively with BAPEN facilitates the sharing of knowledge and experience between professionals managing similar conditions in children and adults. I represent the nutrition and intestinal failure working group of BSPGHAN on the BAPEN Council. I strongly believe that increased engagement with BAPEN allows BSPGHAN to further its cause as an organisation, using the vast experience and resources available through BAPEN.
What sort of jobs are you involved in your role for BSPGHAN?
As a representative of BSPGHAN, my role involves informing the BAPEN Executive and membership about the activities of our organisation. An equally important part of the role is sharing the opportunities and resources available via BAPEN with our members. I am also involved in organising the BSPGHAN symposium for the annual BAPEN Conference, which this year focuses on the management of nutrition in children and young adults with neurodisability. Another significant joint venture is the national intestinal failure registry which records data for children and adults on home parenteral nutrition.
How does BSPGHAN work as a core group with the wider organisation?
BSPGHAN and BAPEN have very similar objectives and are involved with training and supporting healthcare professionals looking after patients with complex nutritional needs. It is essential that the two work together to improve the sharing of knowledge and experience, and to develop processes that allow a seamless transition of care from paediatric to adult services. BSPGHAN members are involved in BAPEN activities directly as a core group but also as a part of the National Nurses Nutrition Group (NNNG), the British pharmaceutical nutrition group, and the Parenteral and Enteral nutrition group. BAPEN also provides a platform for healthcare professionals to work together with children and their families through PINNT.
What have you most enjoyed working on in your role so far?
I enjoy interacting with the wider community of professionals managing people with complex nutritional needs and sharing my experience of managing children. It’s very informative to hear about the experiences of colleagues in a similar situation and look at common strategies to improve outcomes and standard of care.
How do you juggle your BAPEN role alongside your work as well?
Despite a busy clinical job, I value the time spent in BAPEN activities and look forward to the regular meetings both from a social and professional aspect. My involvement with BAPEN activities influences my clinical practice and helps in my professional development.
Why do you think people should get involved with BAPEN?
It is important that BSPGHAN, as an organisation and its individual members, engage with BAPEN. Our shared common goals and close collaboration allows us to combine our knowledge and resources. BAPEN, with professionals from a wide range of disciplines, has a wealth of experience which would positively influence clinical practice and improve the standard of care for children with complex nutritional needs. BSPGHAN relationship with BAPEN therefore provides a good database of resources that can be used in day-to-day clinical practice. Equally, the increased involvement of BSPGHAN members increases and enriches BAPEN as an organisation by bringing the knowledge and experience unique to paediatric services into the organisation. BAPEN, with active participation from the patient advocacy group PINNT, allows patient involvement in the planning and delivery of services to this group of children.
