Brings together senior managers from many disciplines including nursing, catering, dietetics, pharmacy, medicine & surgery. It may appropriately be chaired by the Head Nurse or a senior figure within the hospital who can provide natural links with Governance and the Board. It may benefit from having sub-committees – for example Research and Development, Screening, Specialist Services, Catering.
Its remit is across the whole hospital or institution. It:
1 Oversees and advises the hospital on all aspects of nutrition, including screening and assessment, catering and food, supplements, enteral and parenteral nutrition – for in-patients and out-patients.
2 Scrutinises, develops and co-ordinates hospital nutritional policy in response to external and internal drivers through research and audit.
3 Agrees standards for screening, assessment and monitoring; food provision and nutritional support
4 Co-ordinates delivery of excellent nutritional support in all units, specialist or general.
5 Co-ordinates and monitors appropriate education and training programmes for all staff.
6 Liaises with specialist units and if necessary encourages, supports and develops specific needs for nutritional care delivery within them
7 Supports at least one multi-professional nutrition support team which includes at least one nutrition nurse specialist
8 Oversees the coordinated procurement of supplies relevant to nutrition
9 Oversees management of food for staff
10 Advises on provision of commercial food outlets on hospital premises
11 Is answerable through a governance committee to the hospital board
