'Major deficiencies' in intravenous feeding standards

More than a quarter of people given artificial nutrition are receiving it inappropriately, while some do not require it at all, according to the investigation.

Meanwhile, premature babies are not always receiving the correct nutrients, the report said.

More than half of adults were also found not to have had their nutritional needs assessed, the study from the National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death (NCEPOD) discovered, which described the figures as verging on “disbelief”.

Complications from poor organisation of feeding could have been avoided in around half of the cases, it said.

Only one in five adults (19%) given artificial nutrition are treated to a high standard alongside just 24% of premature babies, according to the audit.

Bertie Leigh, chairman of the investigation which looked at the issue, described the findings as “deeply depressing”.

Patients may require artificial nutrition when they are suffering intestinal failure or their gut is inaccessible due to a procedure.

The study looked at 877 adults and 264 babies from 218 hospitals in the UK.

The report, A Mixed Bag, said: “Many of these babies were extremely premature and of low birth weight and therefore with minimal nutritional reserve.

“Most of the delays were in the order of a few days from birth; however in some cases the delays were up to a week or more during which inadequate nutritional support had been given.”

Have your say

You must sign in to make a comment.