Committee & Core Group Updates MAG - New additions to the ‘MUST’ toolkit MARINOS ELIA, Chair MAG


New ‘MUST’ charts Following feedback and requests from users of ‘MUST’ the Malnutrition Action Group (MAG) has modified the ‘MUST’ BMI chart and weight loss chart, to extend the weight and height ranges, to cater for smaller and larger individuals with the aim to aid understanding and implementation of screening in routine clinical care.


Need for new charts


BMI charts: The new charts cater for an extended weight range of 30-170kg and are available as two separate charts, one with a range of 30-100kg and the other 100-170g. Both have an increased height range (1.46 m to 1.94 m) and they can be used either side by side or back to back on a single sheet.


Weight loss chart: Additional versions of weight loss charts based either on current weight and weight loss in last 3-6 months or current weight and weight 3-6 months ago are now available in metric and imperial units to suit individual preferences. The new charts show weight changes


in 1kg increments (instead of 2kg increments) and also values in stones and pounds which correspond to the values shown in kg. One set of charts is in kg only. All sets of the new weight loss charts span the same expanded weight and height ranges as the new BMI charts. In producing these charts we consulted with a range of healthcare workers in different centres and different settings, both in hospitals, care home and community settings.


The new BMI and weight loss charts are available to view and download free of charge from the BAPEN website (www.bapen.org.uk). However, we are considering having some copies printed in either A4 or A3 size. If your Trust is interested in purchasing copies please let the BAPEN office (email:bapen@bapen.org.uk) know the quantity, type and size of charts required.


‘MUST’ e-learning modules


The ‘MUST’ e-learning module – Nutritional Screening: a ‘MUST’ for Healthcare in Hospital – has been adapted to make it SCORM (Shareable


NSW CHRISTINE RUSSELL, Chair NSW


The data from NSW11 is currently being analysed and we aim to publish the full report in the first quarter of 2012. We had a good response to the survey in April from hospitals in UK with 171 centres submitting data on over 7500 patients. Disappointingly, the response from care homes was not as good as in previous years but we received data on over 500 residents from 78 care homes. However, the response this year from mental health units, thanks to the support from the Mental Health Group of the BDA, far exceeded previous years, and 67 units supplied data on over 500 clients, strengthening the


information gathered for this care setting since 2007. Preliminary analysis of the data would suggest a lower prevalence of malnutrition on admission to hospital this year compared with previous surveys but a similar figure for admission to mental health units and recent admission to care homes. As in 2010, the survey was extended to include centres in the Republic of Ireland (ROI) and a similar number of hospitals took part but unfortunately data was received from only 6 care homes in ROI making it difficult to draw firm conclusions for this sector. The 4 screening week surveys have contributed a considerable amount of information on the


NNNG Update LIZ EVANS, Chair NNNG


It has been a really eventful few months in the NNNG. We were absolutely thrilled when an NNNG committee member – Tracy Earley – won the Nursing Times Nurse of the Year Award. We are delighted that a nutrition nurse has received recognition and won this prestigious award. November 9th saw the launch of our new


website. We have built on the work of our previous site built and managed by Kate Pickering who did such a sterling job with the old one. The new site now has a member’s only section and members will now be able to join and renew membership on line. If you want to browse and perhaps join us, click on www.nnng.org.uk. 2012 looks to be a busy year for the NNNG. The 18th-20th June is the UK Digestive Diseases week in Liverpool. We are delighted to be sharing a joint


symposium with the BAPEN Education and Training Committee, looking at issues around the safety of enteral feeding. In addition, I will be chairing a session on behalf of the NNNG at the nursing day organised by the RCN Gastrointestinal Forum during that week. Our own conference will be in October this year – watch our website for further details. It looks like it is going to be the best yet with a spooky Halloween theme for the annual dinner. We are pleased to be supporting the NPSA Nutrition Focus week which will be taking place in early January. The aim of this week will be to raise awareness of the fundamental role that nutrition and hydration plays in preventing harm in NHS Funded Care.


A number of NNNG members have had articles published in nursing journals, including Nursing


Times, Nursing Standard, the British Journal of Nursing and Community Nursing. These journals reach a large nursing readership and it is vital that members continue to publish to spread the word about the importance of good nutritional care both in primary and secondary settings. Finally, we are pleased to welcome and congratulate Dr Tim Bowling as the new Chair of BAPEN. Tim has already attended one of the NNNG committee meetings where we discussed how the NNNG and BAPEN can further strengthen our working relationship. A huge thank you to Dr Mike Stroud, outgoing Chair for the support he has given the NNNG. Mike was always clear of the vital role that nutrition nurses play in the promotion of good and safe nutritional care. He leaves a sound and lasting legacy.


BAPEN In Touch No.63 January 2012 12


prevalence of malnutrition and screening practice within the UK, and data from them have been used both nationally and internationally to indicate the magnitude of the problem that we have to deal with. We are very grateful to all of you who have participated in them. We have data on more than 32,000 hospital patients, 3,600 residents in care homes and 1,200 clients in mental health units making it the largest and most comprehensive dataset of its kind. Following the publication of the NSW11 report, we aim to amalgamate all the data obtained from the 4 screening week surveys and publish a report towards the end of 2012.


Content Object Resource Model) compliant. SCORM is basically a set of technical standards for e-learning software products and SCORM compliant e-learning modules can be shared across different systems enabling online learning content and Learning Management Systems (LMSs) to communicate with each other. In practice, what this means is that the SCORM compliant versions of our e-learning module will link in with the National Learning Management System (NLMS) used by many NHS Trusts and also any local management systems used by some Trusts. A record of completion of the module is kept on a central record of all e- learning within the Trust rather than on a separate reporting system.


A standard, non-customisable version of the module will shortly be available free of charge via either the Electronic Staff Record (ESR) or within a package of resources developed by the QIPP safe care work stream hosted on the e-learning for health platform.


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