BDA Press Centre: Media Release
10th February 2009
BDA endorse report findings on malnutrition
The British Dietetic Association, endorsed the findings of a new report - Combating Malnutrition: Recommendations for Action - that is launched today (10 February) following the culmination of work undertaken by a group of experts in malnutrition. The Report reveals that three million people are living at risk of malnutrition in the UK, with the cost of the condition now estimated to be £13 billion every year. It also puts forward 25 actions that the Government needs to take to address the problem of malnutrition.
Rick Wilson, spokesperson for the British Dietetic Association and who sat on the Advisory Group that produced the Report, said: “In England alone, there are some six million people who rely on others for their nutritional care e.g. meals on wheels, home helps, luncheon clubs etc., as well as over 600,000 people in care home accommodation who require some element of nutritional support. Add to that, the 150,000 patients that are receiving in-patient hospital care at any one time, it is easy to see how many people of all ages could potentially at risk of malnutrition affects people.
“While policy and regulation frameworks are in place to press home action to combat malnutrition, greater resources are needed to enable dietitians and other health professionals to ensure that there is a continuity of care across all settings. The Government needs to invest in prevention initiatives, such as improved screening in order to identify those at risk of malnutrition, especially when patients are being transferred between settings, and reduce the cost of the condition to the taxpayer.”
According to Wilson, who is director of Nutrition and Dietetics at King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, whilst the BDA has made great strides to improve nutritional care and treatment, more is still required. “Currently there are not enough dietitians in place to successful implement the Government’s health and nutrition strategies, so education of all health and care professionals has to improve in order that all patients can access consistently high quality nutritional care and treatment.”
BDA action on malnutrition:
- Having access to a wide range of expertise through the specialist groups of Parenteral and Enteral nutrition group, Food Counts and Nutrition Advisory Group for the Elderly, the BDA provides informed consensus on policy issues to the Department of Health in England and the devolved governments of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
- The BDA works hard to ensure that experienced dietitians sit on expert national bodies, attend stakeholder groups and respond to consultations to provide evidence and good practice on food and nutrition, food and catering policy
- The BDA works in partnership with the National Patient Safety Agency, Care Quality Commission, Quality Improvement Scotland and other national bodies in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to support care settings in meeting the quality standards pertaining to food and malnutrition
- The BDA raises concerns and seeks solutions to issues involved in care settings and caterers in achieving the quality standards
- The BDA strives to be preferred providers for food and catering work commissioned by Department of Health, Food Standards Agency, health, charities and non profit making and third sector organisations
Media enquiries to the British Dietetic Association and requests for interviews with dietitians should be directed to our media hotline on 0870 850 2517 or pr@bda.uk.com.
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Notes to Editors
- The British Dietetic Association, founded in 1936, is the professional association for registered dietitians in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It is the nation’s largest organisation of food and nutrition professionals with nearly 6,000 members. About two-thirds of members are employed in the National Health Service. The remaining members work in education, industry, research, sport settings or freelance.
- Registered dietitians hold the only legally-recognisable graduate qualification in nutrition and dietetics. They are experts in interpreting and translating the science of nutrition into practical ways of promoting nutritional well-being, disease treatment and the prevention of nutrition-related problems. Their advice is sound and based on current scientific evidence. Registration, awarded by the Health Professionals Council, is an indication that a dietitian is fit to practise and is working within an agreed statement of conduct. For further details about the British Dietetic Association, please visit our website: www.bda.uk.com
- Detailed calculations for the estimated cost to the public purse of disease-related malnutrition in the UK are included in the appendix of the attached report. The calculations in the appendix were prepared separately to the Advisory Group by Professor Marinos Elia and by Dr Rebecca Stratton, and discussed by the Advisory Group.