This week is Home Artificial Nutrition Awareness Week 2017!

What is Home Artificial Feeding?

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.

This is where enteral and parenteral nutrition (artificial feeding) comes into its own!

Enteral nutrition (EN) or tube feeding is when a specific mixture is delivered via a tube into either the stomach or the small bowel. In the case of parenteral nutrition (PN), specific mixtures are given via a dedicated catheter (also known as a central venous catheter) which is placed into a main vein in the chest or arm. These products will contain a mixture of proteins, carbohydrates (sugars), fats, vitamins and minerals. Both enteral and parenteral nutrition may be required at any age.

In a lot of cases the need for parenteral and enteral nutrition will only be short-term and the individual can resume eating again (should they have had to temporarily stop). However, some patients may need to receive these methods of feeding indefinitely.

We congratulate PINNT on their 30th Anniversary

Patients on Intravenous and Naso-gastric Nutrition Treatment (PINNT) is a charity run by patients for patients. It is a national, independent, not for profit membership charity which has been established for over 30 years. It provides mutual support and understanding to hundreds of adults and children and their families adapting to life on home artificial nutrition. PINNT provides this support direct via local and regional groups, online via forums and literature and a national telephone and email helpline.

PINNT’s aims are to:

• promote greater understanding of artificial nutrition therapies amongst patients, potential patients and the medical profession
• provide contact between patients
• work towards improving homecare services and the range of equipment available
• have a united voice to campaign for a better, flexible and safer service.

PINNT is a core group of BAPEN (British Association for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition) and networks widely with the other core groups, including nurses, pharmacists, dietitians and medics.