Oral Nutritional Supplements Guide
Oral nutritional supplements (ONS) are special products that you can buy in shops or get with a prescription. They are used alongside a diet with added nutrients (called a fortified diet) to give you extra calories, protein, vitamins, and minerals. These supplements can help improve your health if you are malnourished or have a small appetite. However, many people who use these supplements could actually get the same benefits by adding more calories and protein to their regular food and drinks.
If you have a small appetite, you do not need to eat lots more food to gain weight. Often, small changes to what you already eat and drink can make a big difference. For example, you can add toppings to your meals or use fortified milk in tea to boost calories and help you gain weight in a healthy way.
We want people to enjoy the food and drinks they like instead of using supplements that may not taste as good.
Research shows that oral nutritional supplements do not offer anything better than what food can provide. Because of this, doctors in Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent are being asked to only prescribe these supplements to adults aged 18 years and over if a dietitian says they are needed. This helps us focus on supporting people to enjoy their usual foods while making simple changes to improve nutrition.
If your loved one is receiving end of life or palliative care, they should also be able to enjoy the foods and drinks they love, rather than having to rely on supplements.
This change in policy does not affect people with a feeding tube (PEG) or children under 18 years old. It only applies to adults who drink these supplements.
If your GP decides to stop prescribing oral nutritional supplements for you, they will let you know and discuss this with you.
Easy to Make Recipes
The Dietetics Service at Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (MPFT) has created easy to make recipes to help you if you need to gain weight or if you no longer receive oral nutritional supplements on prescription. These recipe sheets include healthy meal ideas and tips to make your usual foods more nutritious. You can find the recipe sheets here: Using food to treat unintentional weight loss or poor appetite.
Patient Advice and Liaison Service
If you have any questions, concerns, or complaints, you can contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) on freephone 0808 196 8861 or email PatientServices@staffsstoke.icb.nhs.uk. PALS is open from 9am to 4pm, Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays).