Exploring delays in nutritional product access for children and young people

This article explores the widespread delays in accessing prescribed nutritional products for paediatric patients in the UK, as reported by paediatric dietitians. A national survey revealed that the majority of dietitians frequently face delays due to slow GP processing, supply chain issues, and home delivery failures. These disruptions cause significant stress for families, pose clinical risks for children reliant on nutritional products, and lead to a considerable loss of dietetic time. Dietitians expressed frustration over their limited prescribing rights, which restrict their ability to manage nutrition-related prescriptions directly. The article highlights the potential benefits of extending independent prescribing rights to dietitians and the use of ‘off-script’ models to streamline access.