
FOR SUPPORT WITH HOME ENTERAL FEEDING
Adult & Paediatric Home Enteral Feeding
ABOUT | PROGRAMME AIMS | PATHWAY | ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA | FAQS | THE TEAM

About this programme
The Adult & Paediatric Home Enteral Feeding (HEF) Service provides specialist dietetic support to help facilitate the smooth transition from hospital to home for patients requiring tube feeding in the community.
Why should you refer your patients?
This dietitian-led service works as part of the multi-disciplinary team to ensure nutritional and tube related issues are resolved, that feeding plans are appropriate to meet changing nutritional needs whilst supporting optimal oral intake (if safe to do so) to ensure tube feeding support is continued only for as long as needed.
All patients will have access to a specialist dietitian review in line with NICE guidance delivered as a remote care model according to patient need
Patients can access technology and resources to better self-manage their HEF needs and easily seek additional support and expertise from a dietitian
Cost effective prescribing of HEF products and appropriate selection improving adherence with local formulary and clinical guidelines where appropriate
Programme pathway
Participants are enrolled onto a personalised care pathway, with access to a specialist dietitian within the community.
Initial consultation
An initial review with the specialist dietitian, carried out as a video or telephone call in order to provide quick access to specialist dietetic support with the option for face-to-face reviews if appropriate.
Reviews
Following the initial consultation the patient will receive 3-6 monthly reviews (more frequently in infants or in cases of clinical complexity) either as a remote telephone appointment or via the Oviva app or as a face-to-face review according to clinical need.
Discharge
All patients will remain under the service for as long as they require home enteral feeding support.
Eligibility criteria
To be accepted on to the programme, all referred patients must:
- Be receiving Home Enteral Feeding (tube fed) requiring dietetic input
- Be registered with a GP practice within contract ICB
Please note eligibility criteria will differ for both adult and paediatric patients. Please consult the referral form embedded on your clinical system or contact the email address provided on the referral form if you have further questions.
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 experience team of service managers, clinical leads, specialist dietitians and health coaches.