The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 279 No 7479 p580
24 November 2007

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All pharmacy staff can play a part in preventing malnutrition

Pharmacy staff in all sectors of the profession should understand the benefits their interventions can have on the nutritional status of their patients, according to Rebecca White, chairman of the British Pharmaceutical Nutrition Group and pharmacy team manager, surgical specialties and nutrition, Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust.

Commenting on the launch of a Government plan to tackle malnutrition in hospitals and care homes, Ms White said that input from pharmacists in multidisciplinary nutrition teams in hospital is well established.

“But all pharmacy staff within hospital can play their part by respecting the protected meal times and avoiding ward-based work during these hours. Pharmacists can also assist in identifying patients at risk of malnutrition through the use of screening tools in pre-assessment clinics,” she said.

She suggested that pharmacists working in the community can also use screening tools, such as those developed by the British Association of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, to identify nutritionally compromised or at-risk patients.

“Pharmacists involved in services to care homes are also in an ideal position to identify at-risk patients. Requests for liquid medicines for patients with swallowing problems may highlight a reduced nutritional intake that warrants further investigation.”

The Nutrition Action Plan, launched last month, outlines five priorities:

• to raise awareness of the link between nutrition and good health

• to ensure that accessible guidance is available across all sectors

• to encourage nutritional screening for all people using health and social care services

• to encourage provision and access to relevant staff training

• to clarify standards and strengthen inspection and regulation