
FOR ADULT UNDERNUTRITION
Adult Nutrition Support
ABOUT | PROGRAMME AIMS | PATHWAY | ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA | FAQS | THE TEAM

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