How do we tackle malnutrition in the UK? Dietitians are central to the solution!
For Dietitians Week 2022, we reflect on the importance of dietitians and why they are central to tackling malnutrition in the UK.
Did You Know about the Importance of Nutrition in the ICU?
This week is National Intensive Care week (6-12 June 2022) which celebrates the intensive care specialty and those working within it. Caring for the sickest patients in hospitals takes a large multi-disciplinary team of healthcare professionals including doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, and dietitians.
World Food Safety Day 7 June 2022
To celebrate World Safety Day (7 June) BSNA has joined with International Special Dietary Foods Industries (ISDI) to recognise the importance of food safety and support ongoing partnership working to ensure food safety.
New BSNA infographic published - A guide to Commercial Compounders
BSNA's short guide to Commercial Compounders explores the valuable role the sector has for the NHS and patients
Nutrition and Hydration Week 14-20 March – Why malnutrition should be a priority for Integrated Care Systems
BSNA welcomes Nutrition and Hydration Week taking place 14-20 March 2022. With an estimated three million people at risk of malnutrition in the UK , raising awareness of the value of good nutrition and hydration is a vitally important message for health and social care.
BAPEN Annual Conference 2021
This year’s BAPEN Annual Conference will be taking place virtually, from 29 November to 2 December!
BSNA welcomes Global Nutrition Day 2021
Today is nutrition Day 2021 - a worldwide initiative to fight malnutrition in health care institutions, which asks healthcare professionals in hospital wards and care homes around the world to participate in a one-day cross-sectional audit to benchmark institutions' nutrition care on an international level.
Tackling malnutrition through the Health and Care Bill 2021
On the final day of the fourth UK Malnutrition Awareness Week, with its theme of ‘Ask, Look and Listen’, BSNA looks at how the Health and Care Bill, currently making its way through Parliament is an opportunity to encourage the health and care system as a whole to 'Ask, Look and Listen' to identify those at risk of malnutrition.
Ask, Look and Listen - UK Malnutrition Awareness Week 2021
BSNA is supporting the fourth UK Malnutrition Awareness Week (MAW), which is taking place 11-17 October 2021. Cofounded by the Malnutrition Task Force (MTF) and BAPEN, MAW aims to raise the awareness and understanding of malnutrition.
European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN) Congress 2021 (9-14 September)
ESPEN'S second virtual congress takes place this week with a wide variety of events, discussions and training sessions available to attendees.
Heavy metals and the diet of infants and young children: what you need to know
Baby food and drinks in the UK are amongst some of the most regulated and safe products available on the market. Companies in the UK are very diligent when it comes to food safety, including the presence of heavy metals, and take their responsibility very seriously, often putting in place stricter rules than are required by legislation.
HOME ARTIFICIAL NUTRITION (HAN) WEEK 2021
HAN week 2021 is taking place 2-8 August and is a week dedicated to raising awareness of the essential nutritional treatments - covering parenteral nutrition, enteral nutrition and oral nutritional supplements for people at home and in the community.
Arsenic: what you need to know - update July 2021
BSNA members manufacture products aimed specifically at infants and young children which are highly regulated, including the level of a number of naturally occurring contaminants such as arsenic. This update explains more about arsenic and about rice in a baby's diet.
What is arsenic and where is it found?
Arsenic is a natural component of the Earth and is widely found in the environment in the air, soil and water. Consequently, arsenic can be found in a wide range of foods, such as grains, although, rice is known to concentrate more inorganic arsenic compared to other cereals.
World Safety Day - ‘Safe food now for a healthy tomorrow’.
The third annual World Food Safety Day takes place on 7 June 2021 on the theme of ‘Safe food now for a healthy tomorrow’.
New report from BSNA: Enabling informed decision making and respecting parent choices in infant feeding
A new report outlines the findings of a survey commissioned by BSNA to explore the views of
midwives and health visitors on their ability to support parents in their decisions around infant feeding. It also reports on whether parents feel empowered to make informed choices and explores what
support, advice and information they need both during pregnancy and in the first year of parenthood.
Tipping The Balance - the role of medical foods in managing the COVID-19 Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to the unprecedented expansion of and challenge to critical care services. This has meant a significant increase in the demand for nutritional support and dietetic care, including the use of medical foods. BSNA members committed to supporting the health and wellbeing of patients who have been admitted to hospital with COVID-19 and in recovery.
Newly formed IDDSI UK Reference Group
BSNA members hope to bring expert medical nutrition product knowledge to contribute to the newly formed IDDSI UK Reference Group and look forward to ongoing collaboration in this important initiative.
MEPs call on European Commission and EU Member States to include nutrition and nutritional care in all EU health programmes
At the EU4Nutrition LIVE event earlier this months, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) Mr Marc Tarabella, Mr Aldo Patriciello, and Ms Sara Cerdas joined with renowned European experts to call upon the European Commission and EU Member States to include nutrition and nutritional care in all EU health programmes and recommendations for national health policies.
Feeding Tube Awareness Week 2020
BSNA supports the positive use of feeding tubes to ensure access to nutrition for those who need it!
BAPEN 2019 Annual Conference
The BAPEN 2019 Annual Conference took place on 26 and 27 November in Belfast, with a focus on malnutrition matters.
ESPEN-ONCA-MNI Joint Session
The 41st Congress of the European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN) took place in the beautiful city of Krakow, Poland this weekend, gathering more than 3500 healthcare professionals from 91 countries. On Monday 2 September, the ESPEN-ONCA-MNI Joint Session took place, where experts discussed ways to deliver better nutritional care to patients.
BAPEN 2018 Annual Conference
The BAPEN 2018 Annual Conference took place on 20 and 21 November at Harrogate Convention Centre, with a focus on providing quality nutritional care.
World Prematurity Day 2018
World Prematurity Day is taking place on 17 November, raising awareness of premature birth.
The Changing Face of Parenteral Nutrition in Oncology
Choosing the appropriate nutritional intervention can play an important role in the patient’s prognosis, wellbeing and overall quality of life, either on the road to recovery or for end of life. Parenteral nutrition is an effective form of nutrition support, which can play an important role in patient care. Continued research will help to underpin and strengthen current recommendations to ensure that parenteral nutrition is offered under the correct circumstances, to those who are most likely to require it and that healthcare professionals have the necessary guidance and support in this decision making.
Time to take food allergy seriously
As a parent, giving your child the best possible start in life is your number one priority, and that includes giving them the right nutrition for healthy growth and development. However, when your child has a food allergy, this can be easier said than done.
IDDSI in the UK - what does it mean?
The International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI) came about to develop international standardised terminology and definitions for texture modified foods and thickened liquids for people with dysphagia, helping to improve patient safety.
Need for Integrated Care to Help Us Stay Independent for Longer - New WHO Guidelines
Losing muscle is natural, but its rate of progression and effects don’t have to be. Interventions that combine nutrition and physical activity in integrated care plans can slow, stop or reverse declines in physical function.
Forgotten not Fixed: the increasing burden of malnutrition in England
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.
BAPEN Annual Conference 2017
BSNA was proud to exhibit at the BAPEN Annual Conference 2017, which was also BAPEN’s 25th anniversary. The focus of this year’s conference was ‘Malnutrition Matters’, something which is very important to BSNA.
ESPEN Congress
The 39th European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN) congress took place from the 9 – 12 September in The Hague, The Netherlands.
Managing tube feeding on holiday
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.
30 Years of PINNT!
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.
Home Artificial Nutrition Awareness Week 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.
World Breastfeeding Week 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.
The Role of Specialist Formula Milks
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.
Survey highlights the importance of gluten-free prescriptions in supporting patients with coeliac disease
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.
The Role of Foods for Special Medical Purposes: An infant perspective
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.
NEW RESEARCH: Exploring the optimal use of supplemental parenteral nutrition (SPN): a study of underweight and overweight critically ill patients
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]).
Changing the Perception of Parenteral Nutrition
The NCEPOD report – A Mixed Bag - gave pretty damning statistics with regard to parenteral nutrition (PN) care in the UK, suggesting only 19.5% of adult patients received “good practice” care and demonstrating that, at that time, only 40% of hospitals had a dedicated Nutrition Team.
The psychological impact of breastfeeding grief on new mothers
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.
Coeliac Awareness Week 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.
Cow's Milk Allergy Vs Lactose Intolerance
BSNA explains the differences between cow's milk allergy and lactose intolerance in light of Allergy Awareness Week 2017
Nutrition and Hydration Week 2017
BSNA supports high quality, safe nutrition and hydration for all patients and welcomes Nutrition and Hydration Week 2017.
European Swallowing Awareness Day 2017
The second European Swallowing Awareness Day is on Monday 6 March 2017, and is all about raising awareness of how swallowing difficulties can affect people’s lives and the importance of the support of speech and language therapists.
Feeding Tube Awareness Week 2017
The 7th Annual Feeding Tube Awareness Week is 6-10 February 2017
BAPEN 2016
BSNA is excited to be exhibiting at the Annual BAPEN Conference on 8 and 9 November. Coincidentally, this also coincides with the American elections!