DCHS Policies

This policy aims to improve the nutrition and hydration of all adult patients cared for by staff working throughout Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust (DCHSNHSFT) including those with special/therapeutic dietary requirements. It explains how patients who are at nutritional risk can be identified, how nutritional status may be improved, what support there is from members of the multidisciplinary team and how support and training can be accessed.

The major challenge for community hospitals and staff working within the community will be meeting the nutritional requirements of patients who are nutritionally vulnerable; hence much of this policy is based around nutrition support.

By achieving the care in the Policy, it will allow the Trust to meet a number of voluntary and mandatory standards including the Care Quality Commission (CQC) Regulation 14: Meeting nutrition and hydration needs (2015), The Hospital Food Standards Panel’s report on standards for food and drink in NHS Hospitals (2014), NICE - Nutrition support in adults. Quality standard 24 (2012) and the British Association of UK Dieticians (BDA) – The Nutrition and Hydration Digest: Improving Outcomes through Food and Beverages Services 2nd Edition (2017)

Whilst this Policy focuses primarily on nutrition, as an important nutrient, water cannot be overlooked. Detailed information on assessing and maintaining patients hydration needs can be found in the Appendix

Policy Categories

• Clinical