High-protein ice cream is supporting older patients

Older patients at Nottingham hospitals are enjoying essential nutrition in the form of an award-winning ice cream, thanks to your donations. 

Clinically developed by a team of clinicians in Nottingham, and led by NUH’s Professor Opinder Sahota, a consultant in ortho-geriatric medicine, the ice cream provides vital nutrients in a form that patients can easily consume and enjoy.  

“We are delighted to be able to make N-ICE Cream® widely available at last to some of the most vulnerable patients who are treated at our hospitals and help these patients avoid malnutrition, which is a major cause and consequence of ill health among the elderly”, Professor Sahota explained. 

“The NHS estimates that malnutrition costs around £20 billion each year and despite the hospital meals being nutritious, many older patients struggle to eat them during hospital stays and often find the traditional high-protein drinks unpalatable.

“Our team would like to thank Nottingham Hospitals Charity for their generous support with this project, which has enabled us to move N-ICE Cream® from being a research study to a nutritional supplement product that is routinely offered to patients on our wards.”

He continued: “This product has been specifically developed as a nutritious muscle targeted high protein ice cream, which has been designed to address the serious problem of malnutrition and muscle weakness among older people.”

We’re delighted to have provided £4,800 of funding which will provide six mini freezers which will hold the four flavours (vanilla, strawberry, salted caramel, and mint) of N-ICE Cream®. 

Working with Matlock Meadows Dairy Farm in Derbyshire, the product has since earned five external innovation awards in just 18 months, celebrating its impact in the healthcare sector. 

Nigel Gregory, Chief Executive of Nottingham Hospitals Charity, said: "We know that nutrition can be a challenge when caring for older patients, and we were very interested to learn about this innovative product which has been developed here at Nottingham's hospitals. Thanks to our donors, we're pleased to be able to fund supplies of N-ICE Cream®, and mini freezers for its storage, to help keep older patients nourished over the summer months."

As the UK continues to experience warm summers, older patients at NUH will be enjoying a product that’s both cooling and crucial.

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