Colour of Government


The Colour of Government Red, blue or yellow, or a mix of all three? Which interestingly creates brown!


Rhonda Smith,Communications Manager for BAPEN


By the time your copy of this issue of In Touch reaches you, it will be settled – that is the question of who will be governing us for the years ahead. Or will it? At the time of writing, and following the televised debates between the three party leaders, political pundits and polls suggest that the outcome may not be clear-cut. Talk of a ‘Hung Parliament’ and ‘deals’ are rife – but nothing is certain.


the front-line in health and social care know, ‘efficiency’ is the name of the game coupled with the delivery of improved services that are rated highly by people receiving those services.


Nutrition seems to have a head start. Why is that? It is recognised as one of the eight ‘High Impact Actions’ by Senior Nurses and by NICE as a clear candidate to help contain costs, coupled with the fact that as a service it ticks all the boxes that define Quality – safety, equity, evidence-based, patient/resident experience.


But will these outcomes – or any other outcomes – of the General Election have any impact on BAPEN’s core business of raising awareness of malnutrition, improving standards in nutritional care and treatment, and supporting health and care providers deliver a quality nutrition service? Neither nutrition nor malnutrition feature specifically in any of the manifestos of the three key political parties but all have stated that they will ‘ring fence’ NHS monies which sounds like good news. But as all working on


But BAPEN and all working in nutritional care and treatment services cannot be complacent, and this is why the charity is ensuring that key figures in all political parties are reminded regularly and consistently of the importance of establishing these services - no matter their political colour. The aim? To secure cross-party support for the implementation of nutritional care and treatment services across all health and care organisations that are held accountable, and screening and nutritional care as a ‘default’ position in all care and disease management pathways.


BAPEN Nutricia Research Award 2010 An Opportunity to Win £15,000


The BAPEN Nutricia Research Award is for £15,000 to facilitate a research project. In addition there will be runner-up awards of funded places at the BAPEN 2010 annual conference.


The Award is open to all applications involving research in the area of adult and paediatric clinical nutrition, with projects in the areas of transitional care and disability especially encouraged. The Award can be used to fund research or audit in a hospital or community setting. All Researchers and Healthcare Professionals actively involved in clinical nutrition are encouraged to apply.


Previous research experience is not necessary, and academic support will be available to the successful applicant if required.


Guidelines and instructions for applicants available on request from Carolynn Symes: carolynn.symes@nutricia.com or Tel: 01225 717615


Members of the BAPEN Research and Science Committee and Nutricia will judge the submitted applications.The Award will be presented at the BAPEN annual conference 2010. The closing date for applications is 28th May 2010


www.bapen.org.uk BAPEN In Touch No.57 May 2010 6


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