BSNA | Putting nutrition at the heart of patient care

Newly formed IDDSI UK Reference Group

Posted on: February 18, 2021

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.

Micronutrient malnutrition across the life course, sarcopenia and frailty 8-9 December 2020

Posted on: November 09, 2020

MEPs call on European Commission and EU Member States to include nutrition and nutritional care in all EU health programmes

Posted on: October 27, 2020

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

Posted on: February 11, 2020

BSNA supports the positive use of feeding tubes to ensure access to nutrition for those who need it!

BAPEN 2019 Annual Conference

Posted on: December 10, 2019

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

Posted on: September 03, 2019

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

Posted on: December 17, 2018

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

Posted on: November 16, 2018

World Prematurity Day is taking place on 17 November, raising awareness of premature birth.

The Changing Face of Parenteral Nutrition in Oncology

Posted on: May 31, 2018 • Author: Naomi Johnson

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.

Coeliac Awareness Week 2018

Posted on: May 18, 2018

BSNA supports Coeliac Awareness Week 2018

Time to take food allergy seriously

Posted on: April 26, 2018 • Author: Rebecca Stevenson, UK Medical Director at global healthcare company Abbott

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?

Posted on: April 19, 2018

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

Posted on: April 03, 2018 • Author: Imogen Watson, Medical Nutrition Manager, Abbott’s nutrition business

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

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.

BAPEN Annual Conference 2017

Posted on: December 18, 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.

World COPD Day

Posted on: November 15, 2017

Today is World COPD Day.

ESPEN Congress

Posted on: September 30, 2017

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

Posted on: August 16, 2017 • Author: 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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]).

Changing the Perception of Parenteral Nutrition

Posted on: June 16, 2017 • Author: Harriet O'Neill on behalf of BSNA

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

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.

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.

Cow's Milk Allergy Vs Lactose Intolerance

Posted on: April 24, 2017

BSNA explains the differences between cow's milk allergy and lactose intolerance in light of Allergy Awareness Week 2017

Nutrition and Hydration Week 2017

Posted on: March 10, 2017

BSNA supports high quality, safe nutrition and hydration for all patients and welcomes Nutrition and Hydration Week 2017.

European Swallowing Awareness Day 2017

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

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.