Dietitians have developed an inspiring sustainability initiative in partnership with local families in north Cumbria.
This week marks Greener Allied Health Professionals Week (20-24 April). Led by NHS England, the week highlights the vital role of 14 allied health professions in achieving a Net Zero NHS and improving environmental sustainability in healthcare.
At North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust (NCIC), adult and paediatric dietitians have been working closely with patients and Nutricia, a medical nutrition company, to reduce single-use plastics in home enteral feeding (where nutrition is delivered via a feeding tube).
Through joint clinics, patients and carers have been supported to safely reduce the number of feeding bottles used each month.
A key focus has been on replacing single-use Flocare containers - which are discarded after one day - with reusable Sterifeed bottles that can be used for up to a month.
Since introducing the change, dietitians have supported families to transition to the reusable option. Between March last year and January this year, there has been an 83 per cent reduction in Flocare container use.
Helen Fraser-Mayall, lead dietitian at West Cumberland Hospital, said: “The project to reduce single-use plastic not only benefits the environment but also delivers significant cost savings for the NHS. It’s an excellent example of what can be achieved through collaborative working with stakeholders, carers, parents and patients, and a great reflection of our Trust values.”
Lucy Ralphs, lead paediatric dietitian, added: “Many of the families we support have raised concerns about the sheer volume of plastic packaging they receive. Previously, much of this was single-use, creating both environmental impact and storage challenges at home. The introduction of reusable options has made a real difference - not just for the environment, but for families’ day-to-day lives.”
A family perspective
West Cumbrian mum Sarah Morgan has been using the reusable bottles to feed her son, Joey Moody.
At just six-years-old, Joey has already faced significant challenges. Joey is autistic, has developmental delays, and is non-speaking. He communicates using Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) and gestures, relying on those around him to understand his needs.
For much of his early childhood, eating was a daily struggle. Joey has Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), with strong sensory sensitivities that severely limited what he could eat. As a result, he was unable to meet his nutritional needs, which had a profound impact on his growth, health, and overall wellbeing.
Alongside this, Joey developed complex metabolic issues. He cannot safely fast due to ketotic hypoglycaemia, meaning his blood sugar levels can drop dangerously low without regular intake. As his condition worsened, doctors determined that a gastrostomy - a feeding tube inserted directly into the stomach - was essential. Joey underwent surgery at the RVI in June 2025. Since then, he receives bolus feeds during the day and continuous feeding overnight, ensuring his body gets the nutrition it needs around the clock.
The transformation has been remarkable. Joey is now healthier, stronger, and noticeably happier. He has gained around 8kg and grown approximately 10cm - a significant change that has made a real difference to his quality of life.
For Joey and his family, the gastrostomy has been life-changing - providing not just nutrition, but stability, safety, and a brighter future.
Sarah said: “For us, delivery day used to be overwhelming, with so many boxes and packages arriving. Now, with reusable bottles, there’s far less to manage, which makes a big difference.
“Recycling can be hard to keep on top of in a busy household, so being able to reuse more is a huge help.
“As well as the environmental benefits, the Sterifeed bottles save us so much space. We used to joke we’d need an extension just to store all the single-use bottles!
“They’re also really easy to clean - which is essential for busy families like ours.
“And my favourite thing? Decorating them with cute vinyl stickers - Joey loves it!”