President's Message
Dr Nick Thompson, BAPEN President
As November approaches, it’s shaping up to be another exciting and busy period for BAPEN – packed with opportunities to collaborate, learn and advocate for those who require nutrition support. I’m pleased to share some recent highlights, as well as a look ahead to what’s coming up next month.
BAPEN President Elect
Firstly, I’m delighted to share some exciting news about BAPEN’s leadership. Dr Jane Fletcher will be confirmed as BAPEN’s next President Elect – the first woman and nurse to take up this role in the organisation’s history.
Jane is currently BAPEN’s Professional Affairs Officer and works as Lead Nurse for Nutrition and Intestinal Failure at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Trust. She has been closely involved with BAPEN for many years, from her early work on the NNNG Committee, where she co-authored the Competency Framework for Nutrition Nurse Specialists, through to her contributions on BAPEN’s Executive and Programmes Committees.
We’re thrilled to welcome Jane into this role and look forward to the leadership, vision and experience she will bring as she helps guide BAPEN into the future.
Think Health, Think Pharmacist
In September, we marked World Pharmacy Week, celebrating the vital role pharmacists and pharmacy teams play in delivering nutritional care. This year’s theme – “Think Health, Think Pharmacist” – was a great reminder of just how wide-ranging that contribution is, from community pharmacists spotting early signs of malnutrition risk, to hospital teams managing complex cases, to the scientists and technicians who prepare parenteral nutrition.
We’re proud to have a strong pharmacy leadership within BAPEN itself. Our Treasurer, Sarah Zeraschi, and BPNG Chair, Priya Mistry, both bring huge expertise and energy to their roles – helping to shape nutritional care locally, nationally, and through BAPEN.
Membership Milestone
I’m really pleased to also share that BAPEN has hit a record high in membership – up by 16% in just the last three months. It’s fantastic to see so much enthusiasm and energy in our community, and it shows the tangible progress we’re making against our 2022–2027 strategy.
Over the summer, we rolled out new ways to get involved with the organisation. Students can now join for free – a significant positive step in supporting the next generation of professionals – and we’ve introduced a membership category for Practitioners in Psychological Medicine, reflecting our commitment to holistic, patient-centred care. On top of that, colleagues in PENG, NNNG, BPNG and BSPGHAN can continue to access free membership, helping us strengthen collaboration across disciplines.
Thank you to all our longstanding and new members – I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at our upcoming Annual Conference.
BAPEN Annual Conference 2025
A final reminder that from 11th–12th November, the BAPEN Annual Conference will take place in Newport, Wales. This flagship meeting brings together colleagues from across the UK to share knowledge, network and hear from leading experts in the field.
The full programme is now available, and I’m delighted that this year we’ve reduced registration fees for most delegates to encourage wide participation. A real highlight will be the poster and oral presentations, showcasing emerging research. To support student presenters, BAPEN is offering Travel Grants of up to £250 for those attending as presenting authors.
Remember, immediately before Conference on 10th November, we’ll also be hosting the BAPEN Masterclass. Attendance is included for Conference delegates, and it’s an excellent reason to extend your stay and make the most of expert-led sessions.|
As always, all the information you need – from registration, to the programme and travel – can be found on the BAPEN website.
UK Malnutrition Awareness Week 2025
Another key highlight in our upcoming calendar is UK Malnutrition Awareness Week. Running from 11th–17th November, BAPEN and the Malnutrition Task Force will shine a spotlight on malnutrition and dehydration – conditions that are often under-recognised but have a huge impact on health and wellbeing.
Through this campaign, we’re emphasising that Every Contact Counts – every interaction, whether it’s a nurse visiting a patient at home, an outpatient appointment, or a care home routine, is a vital opportunity to identify potential risk early. We’re encouraging multidisciplinary teams to screen consistently using ‘MUST’, and to help ensure that both patients and carers are informed about the warning signs to watch for.
The week will be supported with digital content, resources and learning opportunities, including the Malnutrition Task Force’s annual online drop-in event. It’s a great chance for professionals across health and social care to come together, reflect on best practice, identify challenges to delivering good nutritional care, and ultimately strengthen our approach to tackling malnutrition.
Keep an eye out for more information, follow the hashtag #UKMAW2025, and I look forward to seeing all your contributions to the campaign.
Best wishes,
Nick
Return to top