Acknowledgements

The third edition of the BDA Nutrition and Hydration Digest would not have been possible without the countless hours volunteered by the Digest working group. This document is a testament to the passion we all share for improving food and drink services in the healthcare setting. 

We would like to sincerely thank each of you for the time and effort you have put in to researching, writing, editing, critically reviewing, debating, proof reading and consulting with stakeholders. It is only with the combined expertise of the working party that we can produce the gold standard for nutrition in healthcare food service.

A special mention of thanks goes to Lauren Bowen, Chair of the Food Services Specialist Group, not only for her ongoing support, but her generous contribution to editing and proof reading of the third edition.  

Also, to Maxine Cartz and Helen Ream for their expert guidance, wisdom and help.

A big thank you as well to Jo Greening, Saachi Avis, Emily Stuart, Leanne McDowell and Amy Pratt for taking on extra tasks during the final months to help get the document over the line.

Thank you to Antony Antoniou for their design work and to Tom Tracey from the BDA for making the Digest an interactive online resource for the first time. Also, to Carlena Probert-Baulch from the BDA for her support and prompt answers to all our questions.

And finally, we would each like to thank our Co-Chair for their dedication and leadership of the review. 

Elise Kelly & Megan Hughes

Members of the working group

Home Countries

Northern Ireland

Jill Curry

Dietetic Services Manager

Northern Health and Social Care Trust

Scotland

Helen Blackwell

Catering Strategy Dietitian

Inverclyde Royal Hospital

Tara Hargreaves

Food Services Dietitian

NHS Lothian

Wales

Sandra Tyrell

Lead Procurement Dietitian – All Wales

Partneriaeth Cydwasanaethau GIG Cymru

(NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership)

Conflicts of Interest; Sourcing of Funding and Authorship

The work of the Digest review working group to produce this Digest was self-funded. Any costs incurred by the group were minimal. We would like to thank all members of the working party for giving their time and thank their employers for allowing them to attend meetings and in many cases set aside time to work on the Digest review.

A business case was submitted and approved by the BDA to cover the costs of the document design and production. Any other costs were borne by the Food Services Specialist Group, but these were kept to a minimum thanks to financial ‘ownership’ by all working party members.

All members of the working group signed conflicts of interest forms during the development of these guidelines. Signed copies are retained by the Co-Chairs of the working group and can be inspected by any interested party.

Stakeholder Groups and Organisations

Our stakeholders were invited to provide comments and suggested changes to the document where they felt that they were required. Thanks go to the following groups and organisations and the individuals who represented them in the first, second and/or third edition:

• Age UK
• Anaphylaxis Campaign
• British Dietetic Association (BDA) 
• BDA Critical Care Specialist Group
• BDA Gastroenterology Specialist Group
• BDA Haematology Specialist Subgroup
• BDA Mental Health Specialist Group
• BDA Obesity Specialist Group
• BDA Older People Specialist Group
• BDA Oncology Specialist Group
• BDA Paediatric Specialist Group
• BDA Renal Nutrition Specialist Group
• BDA Sustainable Diets Specialist Group
• Coeliac UK
• Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH)
• Hospital Caterers Association (HCA)
• Hospital Kosher Meals Service (HKMS)
• National Association of Care Catering (NACC)
• National Hydration Network
• NHS Supply Chain
• British Association for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (BAPEN)
• Royal College of Nursing
• The Vegan Society