On a recent visit to the Adult Community Eating Disorders Team at the Warneford Hospital in Oxford, I met Joel Hawkins, CBT Therapist and Ben Kirton, Clinical Nurse Specialist and RCN Learning Rep. Ben and Joel told me about the increasingly nursing specialist skills in this multi-disciplinary team. I also heard about the development of local community-based centres, which aim to provide easier access to services. 

We had a good discussion about the impending pay award I listened to some of the reflections about the last strike action and what future actions the College should take should the award be rejected by members. Whilst we might have differing views, it's really healthy, encouraging and positive to have these discussions. We each have a world view based on a variety of our own experiences, our values, beliefs and the desire to see the profession rightly and appropriately rewarded. The value of these discussions also keeps me informed about the opinions, challenging questions and views of our local members. More importantly, I can share these discussions locally and with regional colleagues. 

After our meeting, I was invited to join the learning event with the multidisciplinary team. The dieticians led the event which was about the use of oral nutritional supplements. There was a very insightful update about the criteria for using supplements, the range of products available, the nutritional values and the costs associated with the products. Then came the tasting time, which included some well-established products and some of the recent products. Some of the packaging appeared to reinforce a medical/clinical product, whereas the more recent were marketing a healthier lifestyle product. I have to say I preferred the more traditional product taste wise. I acknowledge the multifaceted complexity for people who have an eating disorder.  What this learning session made me stop and think about, was the need to be aware of the taste of these products when recommending them to people.  Being aware of the different range of products and knowing how to combine them into other foods was something I wasn't aware of. 

Joel kindly contacted me to let me know his colleagues commented about my engagement in the session and it had made a favourable comparison to some of the other professional body representatives. I appreciated the feedback, as in my mind I was pleased to join a learning event with colleagues and not in a capacity to promote the RCN. However, even if for a short time it meant the RCN was highlighted then I feel satisfied. I hope to help facilitate a future meeting with members in the Eating Disorders Team and the inpatient areas.