"...all doctors should be able to diagnose and treat nutritional deficiencies."
Royal College of Physicians. Nutrition and Patients: A Doctor's Responsibility. London 2002
This page has been printed from the www.stewartnutrition.co.uk web site.
Feeding or Swallowing Difficulties
This will commonly lead to unintentional weight loss and nutritional deficiencies because of reduced intake or as a result of the necessary changes in the diet that accompany situations such as neurological problems, oral or oesophageal disease.
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence recommends that:
“Such patients should routinely receive nutrition assessment and support before deficiencies become established.”
The invaluable advice of a community or hospital dietitian can be accessed through the GP or hospital specialist and should be sought as soon as there are significant problems.
References:
- www.nice.org.uk/CG032
- The British Dietetic Association Delivering Nutritional Care Through Food and Beverage Services. 2006 http://www.bda.uk.com.resources/Delivering_Nutritional _Care_through_Food_Beverage_Services.pdf
- Council of Europe. Resolution on Food and Nutritional Care in Hospitals. 2003
