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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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]).
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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.
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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.
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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.
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