Home Enteral Nutrition Team - children and adults | Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust

Contact us

0300 123 7058
kentchft.hen@nhs.net
Monday to Friday 09:00 – 16:30

CND HEN referral form

Abbott Hospital2Home 24-hour careline
08000 183 799

Nutricia Nurse 24-hour careline
0845 762 3613

Who we are

The Home Enteral Nutrition (HEN) comprises of paediatric and adult dietitians, dietetic assistants, nurses and administration support. The service is available for children and adults registered with an east or west Kent GP Practice.

What we do

We provide assessment and continuing support for patients with enteral tube feeding in the community.

Enteral tube feeding involves providing complete liquid nutrition to patients who are unable to meet their nutritional needs by mouth. This may be because they are unable to physically eat and/or drink due to an obstruction/surgery/treatment, they have an unsafe swallow or because they have high nutritional needs which cannot be met from an oral diet.

We are experts when it comes to understanding the complexities of enteral feeding tubes and the ancillary plastics required to make feeding as safe and as easy as possible.

Patients are seen at home, in clinics or in an appropriate community setting to assess their nutritional needs and direct their treatment. We also keep GPs up-to-date with their patients’ nutritional requirements.

You will have an initial appointment to review how things are going and will then be contacted at regular agreed intervals by us to review your nutrition, feeding regimen and equipment. We work closely with the enteral feeding company and will discuss the delivery service you receive. We can co-ordinate the ordering of ancillary plastics used for enteral feeding, tube repair and replacement.

Working with an out-of-area specialist team

We work with your out of area specialist teams to ensure your feeds, ancillaries and ongoing training needs are met locally. Any in depth clinical care, including changes to your nutritional requirements and feeding plans will remain with your out-of-area specialist team and they will advise the HEN Administration Team what you need and will let them know if there are any changes needed to your regular orders of feed and equipment.

How will I be supplied so I can feed at home?

In east Kent Nutricia Homeward delivers the feeds and equipment you use.

In west Kent Abbott Hospital to Home delivers the feeds and equipment you use.

Following your first delivery, the feed company will call you every month to arrange the next delivery and make sure you have all the feeds and equipment required.

Nutricia and Abbott nurses work closely with the HEN Team and can provide training and practical support to help you manage your feeding at home with confidence.

How do you use this service?

You need reside in east or west Kent and be referred by a GP or healthcare professional to use this service.

If you are a GP or Health Care Professional and would like to make a referral, please use the CND HEN referral form.

Resources

Our team leaflets

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Your comments

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April 2024
New Romney

Every question that we have asked has been answered thoroughly. Dietitian has helped us with any problems or queries we've had during our journey and has been very caring. (Adult HEN service)

May 2023
Sevenoaks

A pleasant and informative appointment, lots of useful information to use.

May 2023
Deal

Exceptional nursing, always very informative and clearly explained. Meetings were on time and all information discussed was relevant and helpful.

May 2023
Sevenoaks

Given reassurance about my feeding tube and changed my feed regime to suit me.

May 2023
Hythe

Excellent service with great communication.

April 2023
Snodland

With Vicky's support I've been able to have my feeding tube removed. She has been in regular contact and given me confidence to improve my eating.

April 2023
Faversham

Very supportive and understanding. Beth explained everything to me in detail before she did it. I felt like I always had someone to ask any questions I had in emails and at my appointments.

April 2023
Whitstable

The team have been kind and responsive.

March 2023
Folkestone

I am very satisfied with the service I received, it was excellent.

March 2023
Broadstairs

Friendly staff. everything explained as to what was going on. Prompt replys to any questions that I asked.

January 2023
Canterbury

I understand whatever is being explained to me. Staff members have always been nice. Everyone has been so helpful and friendly.

January 2023
Ashford

The HEN have so helpful through my journey and give amazing care. Whenever I email with concerns they are very quick to reply with a phone call and also organising a quick tube replacement.

January 2023
Tunbridge Wells

Jo has been my contact for 18 months and never fails to deliver a brilliant service. She listens, has a sense of humour and genuinely cares. She is helping me with a problem with my peg tube at present.

December 2022
Hythe

Good concern for patient wellbeing.

June 2022
Canterbury

Every member of team was so helpful and understanding about my condition.

June 2022
Aylesford

Vicky was really professional and she was really a great help and went the extra mile to assist me in a very difficult time.

May 2022
Tonbridge

Informative and gives us peace of mind.

April 2022
Canterbury

Reliable, punctual, helpful, supportive and friendly service.

February 2022
Folkestone

Always very helpful with any concern or problem.

March 2022
Canterbury

You are always helpful and prompt in replying to any queries and worries.

November 2022
Maidstone

Knowledge and understanding from the clinician.

October 2022
Herne Bay

Very informative and caring. Every question was answered and every problem solved.

October 2022
Sevenoaks

Excellent experience, calls answered promptly and dietitian was very knowledgeable.

September 2022
Folkestone

Dietitians have explained to me in a way that I understand. Very polite and helpful.

September 2022
Ashford

They provide us with information that is helpful to us. Friendly clinicians who are willing to listen and answer our questions appropriately. Staff are always professional.

September 2022
Margate

Very helpful staff member. Easy access. Pleasant surroundings.