The well-established Nutrition team at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital and Broadgreen Hospital provide a comprehensive, holistic approach to the delivery of enteral and parenteral nutrition for patients with complex nutrition and hydration needs.

This includes patients who are unable to swallow, those that have intestinal failure or bowel disease, or patients with other complex medical disorders affecting their ability to maintain their nutrition and hydration needs.

In order to sustain a healthy life, these patients require artificial nutritional support to keep them well, prevent admission to hospital and maintain promotion of a healthy lifestyle.

This may include:

  • Insertion of a feeding tube via the nose or inserted directly into the stomach/bowel
  • Intravenous fluids: vitamins, minerals, protein and calories (parenteral nutrition).

This service is provided to patients in hospital and at home.

More information

Patients can be referred to the nutrition service via: 

  • Primary care (GPs)
  • Following a hospital admission
  • From other specialist doctors within the hospital.

Complex patients may also be referred from neighbouring trusts and community teams in the region.

The nutrition team consists of a consultant gastroenterologist, a consultant clinical chemist, a clinical psychologist, senior nutrition support dietitian, senior nutrition support pharmacist, and the nutrition nurse team.

Inpatients

Inpatient referrals are received and reviewed on a daily basis (Monday-Friday) to the nutrition nurse service. 

The nutrition team will attend the ward, introduce themselves to the patient and perform an assessment of hydration and nutrition needs.

They will make recommendations in relation to the hydration and nutrition management of the patient. This plan will be documented and communicated to the ward team.

If artificial nutritional support is required, the nutrition nurses will assess, obtain consent from the patient and insert the relevant feeding device for the safe delivery of the planned nutritional support.

The nutrition nurses role involves the assessment, placement and troubleshooting of all nutrition and hydration tube devices, including nasogastric tubes, Nasojejunostomy tubes, gastrostomy tubes and jejunostomy tubes.

In addition to this, the nutrition nurse team place intravenous access devices, for example, peripheral midline and peripherally inserted central catheters (PICC) for the safe delivery of intravenous nutrition.

Outpatients

The nutrition nurse team have two outpatient clinics a week: Monday afternoon and Thursday afternoon.

However, to support the prevention of hospital admissions and Emergency Department attendances, the nutrition nurse team offer a helpline for patients: Monday to Friday, 8am-6pm. They also have the ability to review patients face to face in their hot clinic as required.

Examples where you may need to call the helpline include: feeding tube displacement, blockages or damage, or any concerns in relation to your nutrition or hydration status.

Endoscopic feeding devices

Endoscopic feeding devices are inserted every week day on a dedicated nutrition slot.

However, in the event that your feeding tube becomes displaced or unusable, the nutrition nurse will liaise with the endoscopy team to attend to your needs, prevent admission to hospital and organise an endoscopy slot for tube replacement as soon as possible.

We are the only NHS home parenteral nutrition service on the national service framework, endorsed by NHS England. 

This collaborative service works closely with the nutrition team to ensure patients receive a first-class service in relation to parenteral nutrition delivery at home.

This service has been established for over seven years and is nationally recognised for its high standards of care delivery. 

For patients who meet the criteria for referral for intravenous nutritional support at home, within our geographical boundary, this complete service involves:

  • The installation of the required equipment into a patient’s home
  • Patient and family educational training (in hospital and at home)
  • Full nursing support as required (core team)
  • Dedicated delivery team employed by LUHFT (core team)
  • 24/7 helpline to speak to a qualified nurse
  • Care delivery to meet your personal needs
  • Direct contact with your hospital nutrition team.