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Forgotten not Fixed: the increasing burden of malnutrition in England

Forgotten not Fixed: the increasing burden of malnutrition in England

Posted on: March 12, 2018

The increasing number of cases of malnutrition in hospital and associated deaths reflect a system-wide failure to consistently screen and manage patients who are either malnourished or at risk of malnutrition. Drawing upon malnutrition data broken down by NHS Trust for 2015/16, new research commissioned by BSNA has found that more than half the hospital Trusts in England are significantly under-reporting malnutrition rates compared to accepted national estimates.

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Managing tube feeding on holiday

Managing tube feeding on holiday

Posted on: August 16, 2017 • Author: Nishma Parekh, Hospital2Home Manager for Abbott’s nutrition business in the UK

Most of us look forward to going on holiday or travelling to another country at this time of year. While it’s generally exciting, for someone who is tube fed it can also be daunting and it takes some organisation. The good news is that services provided by medical nutrition companies support these patients, allowing them to live their life to the fullest as possible, at home or away.

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30 Years of PINNT!

Posted on: August 09, 2017

It is so easy to take the simple notion of eating for granted and the benefit our bodies receive from this essential energy and nourishment. However, issues such as illness, inability to get sufficient nutrients from food alone, decreased appetite and swallowing difficulties, as well as functional issues with the stomach or bowel, including surgery to remove all or part of these organs, can mean that nutrition must be supplied in a different way.

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Home Artificial Nutrition Awareness Week 2017

Home Artificial Nutrition Awareness Week 2017

Posted on: August 07, 2017

​BSNA is pleased to support PINNT (Patients on Intravenous and Naso-gastric Nutrition Therapy) Home Artificial Nutrition Awareness Week 2017 from 7 - 13 August. PINNT is committed to improving the daily lives of all adults and children receiving artificial nutrition (AN) therapies, by improving awareness and understanding of those therapies, as well as patient experience and interaction with health and care services.

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World Breastfeeding Week 2017

World Breastfeeding Week 2017

Posted on: August 03, 2017

This week we salute World Breastfeeding Week. Breastfeeding is the best way to feed an infant and is important for both mother and baby’s health and wellbeing. The World Health Organisation recommends that infants are exclusively breastfed until six months of age, after which breastfeeding is complemented with the appropriate introduction of solid food until two years of age and beyond.

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The Role of Specialist Formula Milks

The Role of Specialist Formula Milks

Posted on: August 02, 2017 • Author: Laura Forwood, Medical Nutrition Manager for Abbott’s nutrition business in the UK

Breastfeeding is the best way to feed a baby and is important for both mum and baby. The World Health Organization recommends that babies are exclusively breastfed until six months of age, after which breastfeeding is complemented with the introduction of solid foods until the age of two.

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Survey highlights the importance of gluten-free prescriptions in supporting patients with coeliac disease

Survey highlights the importance of gluten-free prescriptions in supporting patients with coeliac disease

Posted on: July 03, 2017 • Author: Martha Hughes

A recent Department of Health consultation on the availability of gluten-free foods on prescription for patients with coeliac disease prompted BSNA to seek the views of patients, along with parents and carers of sufferers, to understand the role of a gluten-free prescription in managing their lifelong condition.

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The Role of Foods for Special Medical Purposes: An infant perspective

Posted on: June 22, 2017 • Author: Martha Hughes

At any age, for a variety of reasons, an individual can experience periods when food alone, or modification of the diet, is not successful in meeting the body’s nutritional requirements. Foods for special medical purposes (FSMPs) are foods which have been formulated to help meet the nutritional or dietary needs of patients living with a disease, disorder or medical condition when this situation arises.

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NEW RESEARCH: Exploring the optimal use of supplemental parenteral nutrition (SPN): a study of underweight and overweight critically ill patients

Posted on: June 21, 2017

It is thought that patients in intensive care units (ICU) may benefit from additional calorie and protein delivery in the first week of care. However, data has shown surgical ICU patients to be more poorly fed than other ICU groups. In a previous international multicentre, observational study, significant results for an additional 1000kcals in those with a body mass index (BMI) of <25 or >35 were observed. This calorie increase was associated with an almost 50% reduction of 60-day mortality in these groups, independent of the route of delivery (either parenteral nutrition [EN] or enteral nutrition [PN]).

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The psychological impact of breastfeeding grief on new mothers

The psychological impact of breastfeeding grief on new mothers

Posted on: May 26, 2017

​Breastfeeding is the best way to feed a baby and is important for both mother and baby’s health and wellbeing. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends that babies are exclusively breastfed until six months of age, after which breastfeeding should be complemented with the appropriate introduction of solid foods until two years of age. However, a recent article has highlighted the emotional and psychological challenges faced by a mother who has been unable to breastfeed.

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Coeliac Awareness Week 2017

Coeliac Awareness Week 2017

Posted on: May 11, 2017

BSNA supports Coeliac Awareness Week 2017. As part of Coeliac Awareness Week, Coeliac UK is asking community pharmacies to talk with people who are regularly accessing prescription or over-the-counter treatments for irritable bowel syndrome or anaemias to prompt them to be tested for coeliac disease.

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