Oral nutrition support service

The oral nutrition support service are a specialist dietitian led team. We help you if you are struggling to eat enough due to a medical condition, or have become ‘malnourished’ or at high risk of ‘malnutrition’.

We support you to increase your intake of nutrition to help support your wellbeing. If not addressed, malnutrition can worsen a person’s wellbeing. For example, you may see:

• Slower recovery and rehabilitation following illness
• Increased risk of infections
• Loss of muscle strength, resulting in increased risk of falls, chest infections and heart failure (our hearts and lungs are powered by muscles).

The team consists of specialist dietitians supported by dietetic support workers and practitioners.

We offer a full assessment and work with the person sometimes in collaboration with family/carers to agree dietary changes which are realistic and meet individual needs.

How to access the oral nutrition support service

We support people who have tried to improve their eating but are still struggling and require more specialist support. Where appropriate, we will ask you to attempt the self-help resources below first before seeking a referral to our service.

Your GP can advise if you are suitable for our service and refer if appropriate.

When and where you can be seen

This service runs Monday to Friday daytime. You will be seen in community-based clinics, at home (if too unwell or frail to be seen at clinic) and within care homes.

We are a teaching hospital and sometimes we have student dietitians on placement with us who may be present in appointments.

Self-help resources

• Learn more about the effects of malnutrition.
• Checklist to see if you are someone you know are at risk of malnutrition.
• Small and often, high calorie diet guide, for people with a poor appetite and unplanned weight loss.
• Guide if you have COPD and experiencing poor appetite and unplanned weight loss.