Posted on: March 28, 2018
IDDSI is coming!
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.
The Framework consists of a continuum of eight levels (0-7) and includes descriptors, testing methods and evidence for both liquid thickness and food texture levels.
In October 2017, IDDSI was adopted in the UK by The British Dietetic Association (BDA) and Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT). Over the past few months, the UK IDDSI Expert Reference Group have been working hard to develop tools to help healthcare professionals to implement the IDDSI Framework safely.
From 1 April 2018, healthcare professionals will begin to see the IDDSI Framework transition into healthcare settings as updated product labels, following the IDDSI descriptors, will be introduced. However, it is important to note that products will transition at different times over the next 12 months. To avoid confusion for healthcare professionals, there will not be dual labelling for thickeners.
By April 2019, IDDSI will be fully implemented across all healthcare settings.
For more information please talk to your suppliers, or you can find a range of great resources on the BDA and RCSLT websites here:
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Checklist for implementation
- Suggested objectives for implementation projects
- Slides for training care workers
- Slides explaining why adopt IDDSI
More information about IDDSI can be found at iddsi.org