The Leicestershire Nutrition and Dietetic service worked
with GPs who supply medical care to four care homes and
with the care home staff to identify and treat malnutrition
and improve effective prescribing of oral nutritional
supplements.
The project started in May 2006 and following early
successes, the PCT has now funded a full time prescribing
dietician to continue this work.
Individuals who receive prescribed nutritional supplements
were identified and reviewed by a dietician to ensure the
supplements were the most appropriate for them. This has
improved the clinical effectiveness of the supplements and
also led to overall cost benefits as inappropriate
supplements can be stopped.
Within care homes, the team helped to facilitate screening
for malnutrition and implemented a care pathway which
includes dietary changes, monitoring and referring for
specialist advice for patients who do not improve following
this initial intervention. This was tailored to meet the
specific needs of the client group and staff within each
individual care home.
The patients involved in this project are now receiving
appropriate and effective nutritional support and having
supplements that are appropriate to their needs and
preferences.
In addition to being clinically effective, the project has also
demonstrated that this process is cost effective. Savings
have been reinvested into employing a full time dietician
across Leicestershire and Rutland to support GPs and care
home staff to improve the detection and treatment of
malnutrition in the community. A neighbouring PCT has
also recognised the benefits of this work and has funded a
full time prescribing dietician.
For more information on this project, please contact:
Christine.grantham@lnds.nhs.uk
