British Dietetic Association (2008)  Home enteral tube feeding for adults with a learning disability, Birmingham: BDA.

Read Home enteral feeding for adults with a learning disability (PDF, 2.0MB) on the RCN website. [How to access PDF files] Read the Executive Summary on the BDA website.

This Consensus Statement is intended to inform and support the practice of dietitians who are not undertaking a specialist learning disabilities (LD) role but do care for adults with a LD within their caseload. The Statement may be a useful resource for other professionals and student dietitians. It is well documented that most people with LD have greater health needs than the rest of the population including mental illness, epilepsy, physical and sensory limitations, dental disease, thyroid disorders, heart disease, dysphagia, obesity and under-nutrition. The health gains associated with good nutritional care include improved quality of life and improved disease outcomes.

FAST search for journal articles: Nutrition and learning disabled people

Follow the link below to the FAST (Frequently asked selected topics) page, select this topic from the list, and you will be linked to a list of journal article references taken from British Nursing Index (BNI). This service is available to RCN members only.

Go to the FAST page.

Library catalogue search: Nutrition and learning disabilities

Follow the link below to details of books and reports on nutrition and learning disabilities held in the RCN libraries. Some of these items are available online: select 'URL' to link to them. (You may be asked to login to the RCN website to access some eBooks, which are available to RCN members). RCN members may borrow from the library in person or by post. Please contact RCN library and information services if you would like to borrow any of these books. 

Go to the RCN library catalogue.

National Patient Safety Agency: Dysphagia

This resource provides guidance to support NHS staff, adults with learning disabilities and dysphagia and their carers. Reports aimed at these groups are available with links to supporting documents and resources.

Go to the NPSA website.