President's Message
Dr Simon Gabe, BAPEN President
We are now nearly 6 months into implementing our 5-year strategy and, as we move through the year, BAPEN is considering how we can best continue to spread the message of the importance of malnutrition in the community – one of our strategic priorities. It is shocking that nearly 30% of patients admitted to hospital in the UK are already at risk of malnutrition. As we know, much of this burden could be reduced with earlier identification and management of those at risk. We are hopeful that with this new strategy we can raise awareness in the public sphere and with community-based health and social care professionals.
The Malnutrition Task Force
Of course, the risk of undiscovered malnutrition is high amongst the older population. At the end of last year, the Malnutrition Task Force published a ‘State of the Nation’ report examining the scale and challenges of malnutrition in later life. If you haven’t yet read the report, I would urge you to do so, it brings together statistics and evidence from across the health and social care system to provide an excellent snapshot of what is happening to older people who are malnourished or at risk of malnutrition.
The Malnutrition Task Force (MTF) is an independent group of experts across health, social care and local government united to address avoidable and preventable malnutrition in older people. BAPEN is a founder member of the MTF and continues to support its' work.
We hope to share more about next steps in this area in the next In Touch and watch this space for interviews with some of the new board members. Check out the State of the Nation report here: www.malnutritiontaskforce.org.uk/resources/stateofthenation/
Taking the Pulse of Hospital Food report
Not only is malnutrition in the community a key priority for us this year, we remain dedicated to improving nutritional care within hospitals. We were pleased to see a lot of media coverage around the publication of the Taking the Pulse of Hospital Food report, which draws much needed attention to hospital food standards in the UK. Whilst malnutrition affects 1 in 20 people in the general UK population, it affects 1 in 3 patients in hospital, which is why hospital food is so vital to improving the nutritional care of patients. The BAPEN ‘Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool’ (‘MUST’) is listed as one of the five hospital food standards and, whilst the Tool is the most commonly used screening method in the UK, we are still working towards ensuring that all UK hospitals reach the ‘MUST’ standard.
Nutritional Care Tool Data Collection Week
We were so pleased to see a good response to Data Collection Week in March for the Nutritional Care Tool. The week coincided with Nutrition and Hydration Week, so it was a great time to be promoting its value. The web-based Nutritional Care Tool monitors nutritional screening, the effectiveness of nutritional care that is provided, and patient experience. A huge thank you to everyone who took part and those of you who shared your enthusiasm on social media. The next Data Collection Week is coming up, starting on 11th June – visit: data.bapen.org.uk for more information. Remember – you don’t have to be in a Data Collection Week to sign up!
Joining the BAPEN team
I hope you will have seen our advertisements for the positions of Shadow Treasurer and President Elect. It has been a great honour to serve as President and I can assure anybody thinking about applying for the role that they will have a fascinating and exciting job. I am so proud of the achievements of our team and membership during my tenure and I can see clearly the potential for future activities. We look forward to receiving applications to both roles!
Congratulations!
We would like to congratulate Dr Ruth McKee who has been awarded the prestigious John Lennard-Jones Medal for her significant contribution to BAPEN. Ruth is a colorectal surgeon at Glasgow Royal Infirmary and has always had a passion for nutrition. Ruth has found time throughout her career to contribute to the development and delivery of excellent nutritional care at both local and national level. Thank you, Ruth!
Dates for your diary
Have you got the most action-packed and captivating event of the year in your diary yet? Details of the BAPEN Annual Conference 2018 (#BAPEN2018) can be seen in this edition of In Touch – click here – and we’re pleased to say that abstract submission is already open, including for the Powell-Tuck Prize and PENG Award. For further information, please visit: www.bapen.org.uk/resources-and-education/meetings/annual-conference/abstract-submission-process
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