In this issue of PENlines we are very lucky to share two Elevator Interviews with you. First up is Siobhan Lendzionowski, Leadership Support Manager – Patient Experience, NHS England, and then we get to meet Lesley Carter, Programme Manager from the Malnutrition Task Force.

Siobhan Lendzionowski

Leadership Support Manager – Patient Experience, Patient Experience Team Nursing Directorate, NHS England

What is your role and background?

My role is a Leadership Manager – Patient Experience in NHS England national nursing directorate. This is a national role that focuses on improving patient experience and quality of care with commissioner and providers. My background has been quite diverse as I am a nurse but I have worked in local government; ran a charity and came back to the NHS via public health. Since then I have worked in commissioning and in a community trust. I have been working for NHS England for the last 2 years.

How was the new NHS England Commissioning Guidance on Commissioning Excellent Nutrition and Hydration Services developed?

It was developed as a response to the Francis Inquiry recommendations and the continuing evidence from patients and carers that this was still a concern and care issue. NHS England has responsibilities around supporting commissioners and this was one of the reasons the guidance focuses on commissioning and because commissioner told us they wanted guidance on this area. A group of national expert organisations and commissioners from across England have worked on it together and have all contributed to the content.

What are your hopes for the commissioning guidance? How can dietitians help support at a local level?

My hopes are that all commissioners adopt the guidance within the document and apply it to their population and within their commissioning responsibilities. Ultimately, the aim is that this will lead to the prevention of malnutrition and dehydration and for those ‘at risk’ of this occurring they get the right support at the time they need it. The guidance has been produced by dietitians who work in commissioning and it can help them to influence their colleagues to make changes in their existing work and begin new work. For those dietitians who are not in this type of role, the support they can give is to share the guidance with colleagues; encourage commissioners to adopt the guidance and think about how the information within it can support their work. There are some great examples of how dietitians can improve nutrition and hydration in the community, care homes and in the acute sector.

What are the next steps for NHS England in the implementation of the guidance?

The next steps are to work with commissioners to support them to use the guidance and continue to work with our partners (BDA, BAPEN and Age UK) to implement the actions. We are also supporting a nutrition student at UCL to evaluate the impact of the guidance.

Where do you live?

I live on the outskirts of Leeds.

What three places or things should people go to or do if visiting the area in which you live?

For me the three things I would suggest is to try out Harrogate steam baths; walk around the Cow and Calf at Ilkley, which has a very picturesque view over the Yorkshire dales; for something different go to Tetley’s In Leeds which used to be a beer factory.

What book are you reading at the moment, or would like to read?

I love reading so this is a hard question for me to choose one! At the moment I am reading the Mayor of Casterbridge but I have just finished the Scarpetta Factor which is very different!

What is your favourite meal?

My favourite meal – now that is a hard to answer as I love most food (except parsnips). I suppose my favourite is grilled king prawns, some nice lightly fried vegetables and rice. If it can be served on the beach that would be perfect.

Lesley Carter

Programme Manager, Malnutrition Task Force

What is your role and background?

My current role is with national AgeUK; I work in influencing and lead health influencing in the projects and partnerships team. Most of our work is about translating health policy into practice, developing new ways to engage and influence to bridge the policy and practice gap.

One of these projects is about listening and learning from feedback from older people who are in hospital, working with QMU to design a model that will empower nursing staff to work with volunteers and older people to hear feedback and action it in real time. There are two pilot sites: Blackpool NHS Trust and Gloucestershire NHS Trust. My second role is Programme Manager for the Malnutrition Task Force.

I have been very lucky; I have enjoyed almost every day of my long career. I am a nurse with a long NHS background and my career has been varied and great fun. My favourite roles include being an A&E Nurse, Ward Sister, Forensic CPN, Director of Nursing, Policy Advisor and Dementia Lead for the DH and, later, a Nursing Home Registered Manager, commissioning a new 66 bedded Nursing Home for people with dementia.

What are your hopes for the commissioning guidance? How can dietitians help support at a local level?

I think that this guidance is a great start to raise the profile of preventative malnutrition. The guide itself gives commissioners practical ideas that they can use around contracts and other ways to ensure that organisations can deliver excellent services to older people and have malnutrition at the top of their agenda.

What is the MTF and how can dietitians learn more about the MTF and get involved?

The aim of the Task Force is to raise the profile of preventable malnutrition and work across sectors and settings to address this. Working with trusts, care homes and older people in their own homes, to ensure that everyone understands what a big problem preventable malnutrition is becoming. Raising awareness of this issue in the community is important, and advice and support in local areas from dietetics would be particularly welcome. More details can be found here: www.malnutritiontaskforce.org.uk

We are always looking for people to join our stakeholder list. As a HCP we would welcome any sharing of good practice, stories about innovation, papers and conferences around the malnutrition agenda for the professional section of the website. We are often looking for HCPs to work, advise or give opinions on various aspects of our work; if you have the time and would like to be involved please let me know: lesley.carter@ageuk.co.uk.

Where do you live?

I live in Essex close to the Suffolk borders in a rural area. I think I have the best of both worlds; working in the hustle and bustle of London and coming home to the country.

What three places or things should people go to or do if visiting the area in which you live?

You should visit:

• Colchester – a Roman town with a castle, a host of museums, galleries and interesting architecture.
• Mersea island – Accessible only by a causeway and if you love seafood you should visit the Company shed; no cooked food or waiters just shellfish and bring your own wine and bread! Yummy.
• Deadham Vale – Turner painted it, it’s quintessentially British countryside! Row down the river, relax and take in the sights and sounds – minding the cows as they drink from the river. Bliss!

What book are you reading at the moment or would like to read?

I am rereading for the umpteenth time ‘Travels with my Aunt’ by Graham Greene. I like this book because the story is so unexpected; written with humour, intrigue and a certain amount of gentleness, it makes the reader feel that surprises and great experiences are still to be had in later life.

What is your favourite meal?

I guess I should say something healthy but actually I love fish and chips in newspaper eaten with fingers, watching the sea, with a nice glass of prosecco.

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