The National Association of Care Catering (NACC) and the Hospital Caterers Association (HCA) are promoting the introduction of ‘Nutrition Advocates’ to help raise awareness of the importance of nutrition in all UK social and health care settings.
They say the Nutrition Advocates programme will improve nutrition and hydration care, and the eating and feeding practices in adult social care settings. They explained: “Nutrition Advocates will maintain the emphasis on good nutrition on the frontline, overseeing the introduction and embedding of best practices. They will provide the focal point of contact, reference, and action, within a unit or team.” The aim is that the role be taken on voluntarily by a team member with a keen interest in food and nutrition who is in a position to bring about change, and can commit time to leading the nutrition project, and attending training and project meetings. The introduction of Nutrition Advocates supports the aims of the NACC/HCA Nutrition Day 2013 on 20 March – ‘to increase awareness among health and social care professionals of the fundamental role that food plays in any health or social care package’.
