Care is being increasingly provided in the community, so nurses need to be aware of how nutritional support is organised in their trusts, and whether it is cost effective, say Sue Green and colleagues
This article discusses how services for people receiving enteral nutrition via a nasogastric or gastrostomy tube at home are organised. The home enteral nutrition team’s role is also explored. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence outlines the need for nutritional support in adults to be high quality and cost effective. It is important therefore that local services are able to provide people receiving enteral nutrition with safe and effective care that they consider satisfactory.
The discussion is pertinent to nurses caring for older people because gastrostomy tube placement is increasingly common in people aged over 60. A gastrostomy tube is the usual route by which enteral nutrition is given in the community.
Nursing Older People. 25, 4, 14-18. doi: 10.7748/nop2013.05.25.4.14.e449R1
Correspondence Peer reviewThis article has been subject to double blind peer review
Conflict of interestJohanna Van Wyk is employed by Nutricia, which provides home enteral nutrition services
Accepted: 27 March 2013
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