Contact us
0300 123 7058
kentchft.hen@nhs.net
Monday to Friday 09:00 – 16:30
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.
September 2022
Ashford
September 2022
Margate
April 2024
New Romney
May 2023
Sevenoaks
May 2023
Deal
May 2023
Sevenoaks
May 2023
Hythe
April 2023
Snodland
April 2023
Faversham
April 2023
Whitstable
March 2023
Folkestone
March 2023
Broadstairs
January 2023
Canterbury
January 2023
Ashford
January 2023
Tunbridge Wells
December 2022
Hythe
June 2022
Canterbury
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Aylesford
May 2022
Tonbridge
April 2022
Canterbury
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Folkestone
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Canterbury
November 2022
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October 2022
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October 2022
Sevenoaks
September 2022
Folkestone
September 2022
Ashford
September 2022
Margate
April 2024
New Romney
May 2023
Sevenoaks