The Nutrition Network works collaboratively with clinicians, service providers, consumers, industry bodies and other partners to advocate, influence, and facilitate improvements in nutrition care and food standards in NSW health facilities.
The network also works to improve the equity of, and access to, home enteral nutrition services across NSW.
The Nutrition Network has two priority streams:
- nutrition in hospitals
- home enteral nutrition (HEN).
Network structure
The work of the Nutrition Network is guided by co-chairs for each of the two streams.
Nutrition in hospitals co-chairs
Suzanne Kennewell
Co-Chair
Director, Nutrition and Dietetics
Sydney LHD
Sheridan Collins
Co-Chair
Senior Dietitian
The Children’s Hospital at Westmead
Home enteral nutrition co-chairs
Dr Sharon Carey
Co-Chair
Head of Department, Nutrition and Dietetics RPA, Sydney LHD
Katherine Fullerton
Co-Chair
HEN Dietitian Coordinator
Hunter New England LHD
Why nutrition matters
Nutrition is important, especially when people are unwell
Good nutrition:
- supports normal growth, development, and ageing
- supports normal body functioning, including immune function
- helps to achieve a healthy body weight
- reduces the risk of developing chronic disease
- supports healing, recovery and good mental health.
Nutrition in hospitals
When a patient is unwell in a healthcare facility, it is essential that the food and fluid provided to them can meet their nutritional and psychosocial needs and their expectations. This has been demonstrated to enhance patient experience when admitted to health care facilities.
This is particularly important for:
- infants and children who need consistently adequate nutrition for growth and development
- older people for whom inadequate intake can contribute to rapid weight and muscle loss.
The nutrition in hospitals stream develops nutrition policy, nutrition standards to be used in menu planning, and diet specifications to support the provision of therapeutic diets. We work closely with our food service delivery partners to achieve nutrition-focussed and patient-centred food services.
Home enteral nutrition
HEN refers to nutrition support given via a feeding tube, in the home environment. HEN patients often have chronic or complex co-morbidities and specialised healthcare requirements. Poorly coordinated care can contribute to unnecessary hospital presentations, prolonged hospital length of stay and poorer quality of life.
The HEN stream develops service models and supporting resources for HEN care for clinicians and consumers.
Join the network
You are welcome to request to be a member of both streams, nutrition in hospitals or HEN, or you may choose the stream that is of greater interest to you.
