PD504 - HEALTH SERVICE PROVISION FOR HOME ENTERAL TUBE FEEDING AND BLENDED DIETS: A UK SURVEY

PD504

HEALTH SERVICE PROVISION FOR HOME ENTERAL TUBE FEEDING AND BLENDED DIETS: A UK SURVEY

G. Phillips^1,2,*, J. Coad³, M. Hickson⁴, J. C. Manning^1,5

¹University of Leicester, ²Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, Leicester, ³University of Nottingham, Nottingham, ⁴University of Plymouth, Plymouth, ⁵Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, United Kingdom

Rationale: Home enteral tube feeding (HETF) provides essential nutrition for individuals who cannot meet their nutritional requirements orally. Its use is increasing as more people live with complex, long‑term conditions. Commercial formulas remain standard, but the use of blended diets prepared from everyday foods is now more common. Support for blended diets varies considerably, creating challenges for families and clinicians. A clearer understanding current practice is needed to inform consistent, equitable, and evidence‑based provision.

Methods: Survey design using a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request approach was administered to 225 UK NHS Trusts and Health Boards. Data on HETF service provision, numbers of individuals using HETF, and the availability of governance documents relating to blended diets was requested and analysed descriptively.

Results: Eighty-four percent (188/225) of organisations responded. Most (n=155) reported providing care for individuals using HETF of which 85% (n=131/155) provided numerical data. Many organisations were unable to supply data by age category. Only 43% (n=67/155) reported having governance documents to guide blended‑diet practice, with some relying on national resources in the absence of local policy. Reasons for missing data were non-responses, organisations not holding the data or the cost of doing so exceeding the resource limits for Freedom of Information Act requests.  

Conclusion: This national FOIA‑based study highlights substantial variation in governance, data capture and service structures for HETF across the UK. Inconsistent organisational support for blended diets may contribute to inequity in care. Improved governance and systematic coding/data collection are required to ensure safe, consistent and patient‑centred services. Further research is needed to understand how services can best meet the needs of individuals using HETF and their families.

Disclosure of Interest: None declared