The British Association for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (BAPEN), is supplying a free malnutrition awareness poster for pharmacies to display during Self Care Week  (12-19 November).

Malnutrition is a major clinical and public health problem (estimated cost to the NHS in England alone of over £19billion) that is usually only detected when a person is admitted to hospital but it originates in the community, says BAPEN, when people at risk are living in their own home but unable to look after themselves properly.

“Malnutrition or undernutrition can affect anyone and may be caused by an inadequate diet or a problem absorbing nutrients from food. This may be the result of many and varied underlying issues such as a recent stay in hospital, long term health condition, low income or bereavement or social isolation," comments Simon Gabe, president of BAPEN. 

"With the theme of this year’s Self-Care week being engaging and empowering people to look after their own health we think this is an ideal time for all of us to look to those in our own families and communities and assess whether they are at risk of malnutrition, and if they are to take early preventative action or seek treatment.”

BAPEN’s Malnutrition Self Screening Tool is an easy and free to use web based tool designed to help people identify adults at risk of malnutrition in the community – either themselves or someone they care for. Individuals identified as being at risk of malnutrition can download a dietary advice sheet that gives them basic information and suggestions for improving their nutritional intake, until they receive further advice from a healthcare professional. 

The free promotional poster can be downloaded here.