Fluids Resources

As the UK population ages, the number of people with multiple long-term conditions and multimorbidity will increase. Hospitalbased staff tend to specialise and will usually provide care for a single condition such as heart failure. This focus is not helpful for people with multimorbidity, as their conditions interact and medication prescribed to treat one condition may worsen another. People with multimorbidity require skilful holistic care to enable them to have the best possible quality of life. Nurses working in primary care are in a unique position to provide this care. This article examines how reduced fluid intake caused by dysphagia can affect renal function and offers advice on holistic management and treatment of both conditions.

Fiona Wondergem discusses the need for community practitioners to provide evidence of effectiveness when managing constipation and advocates a stepped approach to care. Fiona Wondergem RGN, RSCN, BSc (Hons) is a Student Health Visitor, Leeds Metropolitan University, West Yorkshire. Article accepted for publication: February 2005

Nigel Denby outlines the role of diet and nutrition as simple treatments for the management of constipation.
Nigel Denby BSc Hons, is a Nutrition Consultant and Registered Dietician, Bedfordshire.
Article accepted for publication: January 2006