FOR ADULT UNDERNUTRITION

Adult Nutrition Support

About this programme

Oviva Adult Nutrition Support promotes recovery after unintentional weight loss or under-nutrition, whether at home or in a care home, helping patients achieve the nutrition they need.

Oviva’s specialist dietitians are also able to advise HCPs and prescribers on the most appropriate oral nutritional supplements (according to local guidelines) to support patients’ nutritional goals.

How to refer

Why should you refer your patients?

The Adult Nutrition Support programme aims to achieve beneficial clinical outcomes for patients with under-nutrition such as reducing their risk of malnutrition and related complications (falls, pressure sores, hospital admissions) and drive sustainable savings from the prescribing of specialist adult oral nutritional supplement (ONS) products in primary care.

The service has been shown to improve the quality of care of patients at high risk of malnutrition residing in care homes and in primary care.

View our programme summary here

Proactive identification of patients by a specialist prescribing support dietitian with focus on ONS reviews and medicines optimisation

Specialist dietetic input to care homes and GPs to support management of patients with disease-related malnutrition and patients prescribed ONS

Creation and implementation of prescribing guidance

Programme pathway

Patients identified as appropriate for dietetic review will be enrolled onto a care pathway. Our programme is delivered by specialist dietitians with experience in prescribing support and management of disease related malnutrition.

Initial consultation

An initial review with the specialist prescribing support dietitian either as a video or telephone appointment.

Reviews

Following the initial appointment the patient will receive remote monthly reviews over a 12 week period either as a telephone consultation or via the Oviva app.

Discharge

At the end of the 12 week programme the patient will be discharged back to the GP with the appropriate care plan and ONS prescription recommendation.

Participant feedback

“The consultant is very happy with what you have prescribed-thank you so much you have been very kind”

Programme completer

“Thank you so much for all your help, you have been incredible, I couldn’t have done it without you. I wanted my dietitian to know I am in remission from stage 3 cancer and I am very grateful for her support.”

Programme completer

“I have felt that you have been really supportive and have understood me and given me realistic goals”

Programme completer

“Thank you for all you have done and it is appreciated by both of us “

Programme completer

“It provides support and is helpful for people to understand the need for good nutrition”

Programme completer

Eligibility criteria

To be accepted on to the programme, all referred patients must:

Be aged 18 or over
Have a high risk of malnutrition e.g. Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) Score of 2 or above and/or
Have a current prescription for an oral nutritional supplement and suitable for a remote review
Patients registered with a GP practice within contract ICB

Eligibility criteria may vary. If Oviva is commissioned in your ICB, please contact ovivauk.medsoprd@nhs.net to check criteria in your area and request a referral form.

Your questions answered

How can primary care refer to the programme?

Please complete the referral form in full accessed via your system and send to the email address provided on the form.

What resources are available for patients who do not want to or are unable to use the Oviva app?

If a participant does not have a smartphone or would prefer not to use one, they can have all appointments via telephone calls. The app is not compulsory and they can benefit from the service without using the app if preferred, although we encourage all participants to download the app to have the best possible experience of the service.

More FAQs

Meet the team

All Oviva services are overseen by our experienced team of service managers, clinical leads, specialist dietitians and health coaches.

Stela Chervenkova RD
Clinical Lead for Adult ONS

Carine Jelinek
Service Delivery Lead

Charlotte Dobson
Service Manager

Oviva is a leading provider of NHS services, combining the support of dietitians, diabetes specialist nurses, health coaches and psychologists with technology to make healthcare more convenient and accessible to all.
We blend behaviour change therapy with our unique technology and incredible team to support people to improve their health and better manage their conditions. We partner exclusively with the NHS to offer our programmes across the UK to participants for free. To put it simply, we help people lead healthier and happier lives.
Those enrolled in the programme receive an initial consultation with a dietitian to explain what happens on the programme, decide what they would like to achieve during the following 12 weeks and create a personalised plan together to meet these goals.
During the programme participants will have follow up phone calls or app messaging with their dietitian, who will ensure they are on track and making progress, and answer any questions they may have.
To help you meet their nutritional goals, the dietitian will share useful written information with participants over the app, which is accessible at any time. Once the 12 week programme has ended participants can continue to use the app to keep track of their food and weight. They will also still have access to any written content so they can revisit anything they need.
At the end of the programme the participant will be discharged back to their GP with the appropriate care plan.
Inclusion
- Patients with a current prescription for an oral nutritional supplement (ONS) and suitable for a remote review
- Patients with a high risk of malnutrition e.g. Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) Score of 2 or above
- Patients ≥ 18 years
- Patients registered with a GP practice within contract ICB
Exclusion
- Patients requiring a face-to-face review
- Patients receiving enteral feeding (NG/NJ/PEG feeding)
- Patients < 18 years
Service evaluation implementing a 12-week dietetic pathway for care home patients and education for care home staff (BAPEN 2019).
- 60% estimated saving on current ONS spend
- Significant increase in care staff confidence with MUST Screening and implementation of ‘Food First advice’
- GPs and Carers feedback – 9.1/10 value of dietitian input
- Incidence of infections, falls, pressure sores declined
A service evaluation on the impact of a rapid access clinic in care homes (ESPEN 2022) showing evidence of:
- Care home patients seen quickly and effectively
- Reduction in infections, falls pressure sores and infections
- Positive feedback from staff and GPs