BAPEN Launches New Information Resource To Support Hospital Trusts As They Respond To The Improving Nutritional Care Action Plan Launched Yesterday

Main Category: Nutrition / Diet
Also Included In: IT / Internet / E-mail
Article Date: 31 Oct 2007 - 3:00 PST

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BAPEN's new web-based information resource Organisation of Food and Nutrition Support in Hospitals (OFNoSH) is freely available to download at http://www.bapen.org.uk. The resource will help Hospital Boards and senior staff tasked with overseeing nutritional care to ensure that the appropriate infrastructure, processes and resources are in place.

"BAPEN is delighted to be launching today its web-based information resource, aptly named OFNoSH, to support Hospital Trusts as they respond to the challenges laid down in the Nutritional Care Action Plan* and in the '10 Key Characteristics of Good Nutritional Care in Hospitals'**," states Professor Marinos Elia, Chair of BAPEN.

Ivan Lewis MP Minister for Care Services says:
"I am delighted that BAPEN has responded so promptly to the challenges laid down in the Nutrition Action Plan, launched yesterday, by publishing its new web-based information resource, OFNoSH. This resource is a very useful addition to the 'tool-kit' of resources guidance available for Hospitals to improve the delivery of nutritional care."

Jeremy Powell-Tuck, Co-Chair of the BAPEN OFNoSH Editorial Group
(Professor of Clinical Nutrition and Honorary Consultant Gastroenterologist, Barts and the London) says:
"It is no good having screening for malnutrition in place in Hospitals without the system and resources to back it up to ensure that nutrition care plans can be delivered to meet each patient's needs - whether that's with food or special feeding through tubes. Hospital Trusts need to think about the infrastructure, resources and training required to achieve this. BAPEN's new web-based resource, OFNoSH, Organisation of Food and Nutritional Support in Hospital, is designed to do just that.
Board members and senior managers must provide the leadership and drive to effect change. BAPEN's new resource will help them in those tasks."

Rick Wilson, Co-Chair of the BAPEN OFNoSH Editorial Group adds: "From the Boardroom to the bedside, it is vital that Hospitals organise nutritional care - from the kitchens to the ward and at discharge - and that all disciplines are involved. Catering, nursing, medical, and surgical, pharmacy, speech & language, occupational therapy and dietetic staff all have a vital role to play. OFNoSH offers the tools to help everyone involved."

BAPEN's web-based information resource builds on previously published work and guidance from BAPEN itself, the Royal College of Physicians, Royal College of Nursing, Council of Europe UK Alliance, British Dietetic Association, NICE and the Department of Health and encourages Trusts to take an 'aspirational' approach to planning their comprehensive delivery of nutritional support services to all adult patients.

Organisation of Food and Nutrition Support in Hospitals (OFNoSH) has been developed by a multi-disciplinary team from BAPEN and will help Trusts develop:

- a clear understanding of the roles and responsibilities of all involved in delivering nutritional care for all adult patients in all departments
- the Nutrition Steering Group / Nutrition Support Team to provide leadership and spearhead change
- a change of culture that embeds nutritional care - from screening to feeding - into routine practice
- an individual patient-centred approach to nutritional care
- a sustainable information resource for established and new staff

'Organisation of Food and Nutrition Support in Hospitals' is freely available to access on the BAPEN website http://www.bapen.org.uk. As it has hot links to many reports and further information, it is best viewed and used on-line. However, a paper format is also available on-line to download freely. Full details are available on the BAPEN website.

* Improving nutritional care - a joint Action plan from the Department of Health and Nutrition Summit stakeholders http://www.bapen.org.uk
** 10 Key Characteristics of Good Nutritional Care in Hospital http://www.bapen.org.uk/pdfs/coe_leaflet.pdf

What is BAPEN?

The British Association for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition is a multi-professional association and registered charity. Established in 1992, BAPEN is committed to improving nutritional care and treatment in hospital, care and the community. BAPEN developed and promotes the use of the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool ('MUST') for the screening of all adults for malnutrition on admission to hospital and care.

What are BAPEN's objectives?

- Increase awareness of and enhance understanding and management of malnutrition - Establish a clinical governance framework to underpin the nutritional management of all patients, residents and individuals - Enhance knowledge and skills in clinical nutrition and nutritional care and treatment for doctors, nurses, dietitians, pharmacists and patients through education & training - Communicate the benefits of clinical and cost-effective optimal nutritional care to all healthcare professionals, policy makers, patients and the public

Who are Members?

BAPEN meets the needs and interests of doctors, specialist clinicians, pharmacists, dietitians, nurses, care managers and professionals, academics, patients, researchers, public health & policy advisers, service and support providers and commercial organisations with an interest in nutrition and nutritional support.

What activities & projects are run by BAPEN?

- Annual Conference- 27/28 November 2007, Harrogate
- Regional meetings via a Regional network
- BANS - British Artificial Nutrition Survey
- 'MUST' Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool & its implementation
- MAG - Malnutrition Advisory Group
- NICE and intercollegiate liaison
- Training courses & materials
- Newsletter, Reports, Website

http://www.bapen.org.uk