BAPEN and the Patient Network Group Specialist Interest Group (PNG SIG) are pleased to launch a new resource, Supporting Safe Home Enteral Tube Feeding: Checklists for Patients and Carers, Healthcare Professionals and Homecare Providers.
The practical resource has been developed in response to patient feedback about experiences of home enteral tube feeding and aims to support safer, more consistent and person-centred care. It provides three dedicated checklists tailored to patients and carers, healthcare professionals, and homecare providers, outlining what good care should look like at every stage of the home enteral feeding journey.
The resource highlights the importance of appropriate training, coordinated care, regular review, effective communication and emotional support. By setting out clear expectations and responsibilities, the checklists aim to empower patients and carers to advocate for their needs while helping healthcare teams and homecare providers deliver high-quality, joined-up care.
A shared commitment to high-quality care
Carolyn Wheatley MBE, Chair of the PNG SIG, said:
“This resource has been shaped by the experiences and insights shared by patients and carers living with home enteral tube feeding. These checklists are designed to empower people to ask the right questions, understand the support they should expect, and feel more confident managing life at home with a feeding tube.
For healthcare professionals and homecare providers, we hope these resources will support more open conversations, strengthen partnerships with patients and carers, and provide a clear benchmark for what high-quality, person-centred care looks like.”
The checklists were created following findings from the publication Experiences and views of support services for people living at home with an enteral tube: It’s time to listen and take action, translating patient feedback into practical actions that can improve safety, confidence and quality of life for people receiving home enteral tube feeding.
The resource aligns with national quality standards and promotes a collaborative approach between patients, carers, healthcare teams and homecare providers, supporting the delivery of safe, effective and compassionate home enteral tube feeding services.
Nick Thompson, President of BAPEN, commented:
“Providing safe, effective home enteral tube feeding relies on coordinated care across multiple services and settings. These checklists offer a practical framework to support greater consistency, strengthen communication and reduce variation in care, helping patients and carers receive the support they need, when they need it. As the NHS continues to focus on delivering more care closer to home, resources such as this play an important role in supporting high-quality nutritional care and improving patient experience.”
Launching during HAN Week* makes this resource especially timely, reinforcing the campaign’s focus on recognising the full team behind home artificial nutrition support and promoting safe, high-quality care for people receiving home enteral tube feeding.
* Find out more: https://bit.ly/HANWeek2026
