President's Message
Dr Trevor Smith, BAPEN President
I’m delighted to be writing to you at the start of an exciting week for us – UK Malnutrition Awareness Week 2023. I’m pleased to highlight this campaign, as well as to provide an update on other activities BAPEN has been involved with and events to look forward to.
UK Malnutrition Awareness Week 2023
It’s amazing to see UKMAW reaching its sixth year. Over the years, we have used this platform to increase understanding of the dangers, risk factors and signs of malnutrition and dehydration amongst health and social care workers, community groups, the public, parliamentarians and policy makers. Since the coronavirus outbreak and in the aftermath of lockdowns, we believe more people are at risk of malnutrition. That is why it’s more important than ever to get involved with the campaign and help us work towards our vision for every individual to receive safe, timely and appropriate nutritional care in every care setting, every day.
As with previous years, each day of the week has a designated theme, so you’ll be pleased to hear there are plenty of opportunities to get involved. On Monday, our brilliant partners at the Malnutrition Task Force are hosting a Learning Day to share an overview of where older people are now, provide insights into how older people are coping, how systems are working and how transformation in the new NHS and social care landscape includes older people, some with increasingly complex needs. After that, join the conversation on social media on Tuesday 7th with #InteractiveTuesday, where we’re asking you to share challenges you’ve encountered delivering nutritional care, solutions you’ve implemented, and conversations you’ve encouraged. We also want to recognise and congratulate people who, in their day-to-day work or activities, are devoted to raising awareness of malnutrition and improving access to good nutritional care. Please use this form as an opportunity to nominate your #NutritionSuperhero - it could be a colleague working in health and social care or in the community, a family member who looks out for vulnerable relatives and neighbours, or someone working in a charity.
Please do get involved with the campaign, in your settings or on social media using the hashtag #UKMAW2023. Through combined efforts like these, we can help reduce the impact and burden of malnutrition in the UK and share best practice.
Malnutrition and Nutritional Care Screening Survey
The Malnutrition Action Group’s (MAG) annual National Screening Survey is now open! This survey is open to anyone working in health or social care and invites them to submit screening data on their patients. It is simple to register and enter details, with all calculations of 'MUST' done for you, and options for online or paper-based entry if preferred. It may be that you choose to pick one day in November to enter the data from every patient they see on that day, or you can do it throughout. The survey link is here: https://bit.ly/ScreeningSurvey2023
Results from the 2022 screening survey reveal that nearly half (45%) of all adults screened across health and care settings in the UK were found to be at risk of disease-related malnutrition. When assessing prevalence by setting, the findings indicate malnutrition risk is highest in those in their own homes (56% at risk), in residents in care homes (55% at risk), and in hospitals (44% at risk).
Last year, we were pleased to receive data from a range of health and social care settings across all four nations last year, and we’re eager to do the same again. By screening a large number of people across the UK, we can build a better picture of the scale of the malnutrition problem and the treatment that people are receiving, and also use trends over the years to inform our future focus.
UK Covid-19 Inquiry – CATA witness statement published
BAPEN is a proud member of the COVID-19 Airborne Transmission Alliance (CATA). As I’m sure you know, CATA is an association of professional and scientific bodies in the health sector bringing technical expertise or relevant lived experience of COVID-19 in the healthcare system.
Adding to their long list of achievements, CATA provided a witness statement to the UK Covid-19 Inquiry which is now available publicly available. The Inquiry, established to examine the UK’s response to and impact of the Covid pandemic, heard from Professor Kevin Bampton who comprehensively and effectively presented CATA’s case that the country was not prepared for any pandemic, let alone the Covid-19 outbreak. If you haven’t already, I encourage you to read the full report here, and follow the Public Inquiry where possible.
BAPEN Conference 2023
At BAPEN we’re getting excited for our Conference at the end of the month. I’m really looking forward to getting stuck into a diverse programme of multidisciplinary topics from a stellar line up of speakers. From jejunal feeding to blended diets, management of high output stoma to the microbiome and gut health, there is something for everyone. One of my favourite elements of BAPEN Conference is that it brings together professionals working from different disciplines and provides an opportunity for us to share best practice and learn from one another in a collegial environment.
There’s still time to register to join us for the Conference in Edinburgh (28 – 29th November). To find out all the information you need to attend Conference, including registration, the pre-Conference Training Day, and the programme, please visit the BAPEN website.
Best wishes,
Trevor
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