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Figure 7B: From food to parenteral nutrition.
Timely Intervention
People may need different forms of nutritional intervention during their
life and the course of any illness which can be provided in all health and social care settings.
Nutritional care can be illustrated as below where most people have
their needs met by 'food first', a smaller number require oral nutrition supplements, fewer still need
enteral nutrition and a small minority require parenteral nutrition (See Figures 7A and 7B). All of
these may also be used in combination.
Figure 7A: From food to parenteral nutrition.
Adapted from BAPEN19
Figure 7B: From food to parenteral nutrition.
Food should be considered the first line of intervention and other interventions
considered when nutritional requirements cannot be met by food and fluid alone. In promoting good nutrition,
it is important to progress with timely intervention from food first through to parenteral nutrition
where indicated. Of equal importance is the need for timely reassessment to achieve the goal of food
first where additional forms of nutritional intervention are no longer indicated.
The decision making process for timely intervention is illustrated as
a flow chart (Appendix 4)20,
10.
