Another day, another council press release. This led to an interesting story involving attempts to combat malnutrition in sheltered housing in Westminster. The press release concerned the council's plans to introduce screening, but I wrote the story, reangling it to focus on the results of the "shock" survey!
This appeared as the lead on page 15 of the Wood & Vale, Dec 7th 2007.
Eat Your Lisson Greens.
Hundreds of people living in sheltered housing across Westminster may be at risk of malnutrition, a shock survey has revealed.
The pioneering study found that a quarter of 61 people on Marylebone's Lisson Green Estate were at risk, with five requiring urgent referral to a medical professional.
When the findings are applied across Westminster, the total number at risk of malnutrition is 625.
The study has resulted in sheltered housing managers across the borough being trained to screen residents for malnutrition, the first time such a scheme has been rolled out in London.
Until now, neither councils nor Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) have been required to screen among sheltered housing residents.
Health boss Cllr Ian Adams said: "Surprisingly, there has been very little work assessing and tackling the risk of malnutrition among this very vulnerable group. Westminster is now leading the way in this respect."
Westminster PCT Lynda Hamilton said: "Good nutrition is absolutely essential to good health and well being.
"By working in partnership with the council we can ensure residents are referred to the right services. We can also be proactive and tailor health promotion programmes to encourage healthy eating and living at home."
Housing managers will incorporate screening within coffee mornings and other social events, so that emerging problems can be identified before chronic risk manifests.
Following the new initiative, residents will be screened by trained sheltered housing managers on a six monthly voluntary basis.
The results of the Westminster study reflect the finding of the British Association for the Parental and Enteral Nutrition (BAPEN), who last week announced similar rates among hospital and care home residents.
BAPEN spokesperson Rhonda Smith welcomed the results. "We congratulate Westminster for their pro-active work in this field, and look forward to refining this work with other boroughs across London, and nationwide."
Professor Marinos Elia, Chair of BAPEN, said: "These findings establish- if there was ever any doubt- that malnutrition is a major public health issue in the community, that must be addressed both at source, and when individuals are admitted into care."
A DVD showing how council and PCT teams should work together will also be made available to health and social care professionals in he New Year, courtesy of Westminster City Council.
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