Promoting nutritional care awareness in the Western Isles

“care awareness”

An event held to raise awareness of the risk of malnutrition in the local community, promote good practice and most importantly promote understanding of issues around food, fluid and nutritional care in hospital was recently held by NHS Western Isles.

The awareness day event was held at Western Isles Hospital on May 24, with ward staff and staff from local care homes coming together to promote nutritional care awareness.

“Staff and patients”

During the day, there were colourful displays, information and training sessions.

Lillian Macaskill, Nutrition Champion at NHS Western Isles explained: “Malnutrition leads to disease, delays in recovery, increases visits to the GP and increases the frequency and length of hospital stay. The sessions gave staff the tools to ensure that malnutrition is recognised at the earliest opportunity.”

Nurses and Healthcare Assistants from the hospital attended the day as well as 20 care staff from Ardseileach, Blar Buidhe, Carloway Day Centre, Dun Berisay, Grianan and Bethesda.

One of the participants commented: “It was all really beneficial – I will go online and do the training and I’ll definitely share the information with the day care staff and patients’ relatives”.

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