AS the prevalence of poor nutrition in hospitals makes negative headlines in the UK, Noble’s Hospital in the Isle of Man continues with its programme to ensure patients eat properly on its wards.
Josie Wade, advanced specialist dietician, and Alison Lester, volunteer service manager, are on a recruitment drive for an ‘army’ of volunteer dining companions who will assist those who perhaps need a little more attention at mealtimes.
The volunteer dining companions scheme was born out of the Nutrition Action Group, which was set up in 2003 in response to concerns over the nutrition care of patients at Noble’s. NAG has worked on a range of strategies to that end since then and in 2010 it began trialling the VDC scheme on two wards.
Now it is time to expand the scheme, said Alison. ‘Looking at the guidelines and policy, for this to be a success we need it to be throughout the hospital, not just on two wards,’ she said.
So training will begin on Friday for anyone who feels they can spare some time to help.
‘It’s about companionship and encouragement for people who find it difficult to cut up food or concentrate etc,’ said Alison. ‘Not high risk patients, just patients that have perhaps broken their arm or patients that are needing somebody to sit with them to offer that extra encouragement. VDCs can offer alternatives to what’s on the menu, offering something a little bit different, encouraging them to eat that little bit more.’
Volunteers will need to be able to give an hour at lunchtime or teatime to spend on a ward.
‘Training will be provided and they will have full support,’ said Alison. ‘It isn’t a role that suits everybody. They would have to be happy talking to people they haven’t met before and entering a ward. Perhaps they have had experience themselves previously of nutritional needs or have been in hospital and seen a need. We are not there in place of paid staff or replacing nursing care, we are there to support the services already in existence.’
Josie explained the importance of the scheme in the context of nutritional monitoring. ‘People who are malnourished have a longer stay in hospital, are less mobile, fall more easily and are weaker. It delays recovery. If you are poorly nourished you are more likely to pick up an infection,’ she said.
A 2011 report from the British Association for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, which aims to raise awareness of malnutrition, showed the results of a survey of 185 hospitals in the British Isles.
They discovered one in four patients are at high risk of malnutrition. ‘What they expected to find was that it was the oldest people but it showed all age groups,’ said Josie.
‘The aim really is to ensure we are recognising people at risk and that we are doing something.’
Anyone who would like to volunteer should call 650720 or email Alison at Alison.Lester@gov.im