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Press Release

'Every Mouthful Counts! - Nutrition Conference for People in Nursing Homes

The Northern Health and Social Services Board in partnership with United Hospitals Trust and Causeway Health and Social Services Trust highlighted the importance of nutrition in nursing homes by hosting a conference entitled “Every Mouthful Matters - Nutritional Needs of Older People in Nursing Homes”.

A community nutritional risk tool which provides a practical method of overseeing and evaluating the nutritional status of individual patients in nursing homes has been launched.

Speaking at the event, Miss Elizabeth McNair, Director of Nursing and Consumer Services, Northern Board, said:

“Nursing home staff are the people who are responsible for ensuring that nursing home residents receive adequate nutrition at a time when they are most vulnerable to disease and infection. As a result, nutritional screening is essential to prevent malnutrition in the older person in the care home setting, as is the subsequent nutritional intervention.

This tool will play an important role in promoting the well-being of residents and the Board’s commitment to raising quality standards.”

Rose Day, Dietitican, United Hospitals Trust, highlighted the benefits of this tool for patients and staff:

“The launch of this nutritional screening tool will help nursing home staff determine if an individual is nutritionally at risk and to put a plan in place to ensure that the individual’s particular nutritional needs are met.

“It is better to detect and treat sooner rather than later any changes in weight, appetite, and ability to eat, which can seriously impact on health. Adequate nutrition is vital for maintaining the health of elderly people and to contribute to recovery from illness.”

This tool is in line with the Health and Social Services Regulatory and Inspection Authority’s draft standards for nursing homes which stipulate that a nutritional screening tool must be employed in the nursing home setting.

Copies of the nutritional screening tool and the associated information can be obtained by contacting Denise Pemrick, Northern Health and Social Services Board, tel: 028 2566 7657.

Highlighting the importance of nutrition in nursing homes at a major conference are:
(front row, left to right): Ruth Balmer, Fort Centre, Coleraine; Elizabeth McNair, Director of Nursing & Consumer Services, NHSSB and Rose Day, United Hospitals Trust.
Back row (left to right) : Michaela Barr, NHSSB; Katherine Casey, Whiteabbey Hospital; Molly Kane, NHSSB; Julie Thornton, NHSSB and Denise Pemrick, NHSSB.

For further information, please contact Nataleen Surgenor / Elizabeth Owen / Sinead Downey

Public Relations Office, NHSSB,
County Hall, 182 Galgorm Road, Ballymena, Co Antrim BT42 1QB
Tel: (028) 2566 2081/2/3 Fax: (028) 2566 2311
Textphone: (028) 2566 2618 Pager: 07666 893869
Patient/Client Information Service: (08457) 626428

E-mail address:
nataleen.surgenor@nhssb.n-i.nhs.uk, elizabeth.owen@nhssb.n-i.nhs.uk
sinead.downey@nhssb.n-i.nhs.uk

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