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How to swallow pills easily

As you are living with dysphagia, you’ll be familiar with taking pills and may find it a difficult daily task.

If you do, we wanted to let you know you are not alone. A recent survey with pharmacists said that most patients they speak to say, “I worry about choking on my pills or them getting stuck.“

That’s one of the main reasons we created Pill-Eze: to make pills easy to swallow.

A pre-thickened liquid, you simply put a pill on a spoon, cover with 5-10ml of Pill-Eze and drink together. Pill-Eze carries the pills allowing them to glide down safely without getting stuck.

Better still its sweet cherry flavour helps to make it a pleasant experience, hiding the powdery and sour taste of a pill’s coating.

It’s also important to remember that Pill-Eze is inert. It doesn’t interact with medication in it or prevent it working as well as it should like jams and yoghurts do. Consequently, medication such as paracetamol and antibiotics or vitamin supplements will provide the full relief and benefits you want.

We hope knowing you’re not alone in your struggle with pills is a help and if you want to find out more about Pill-Eze click here: www.pill-eze.com

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How to swallow pills easily

As we all know, swallowing medicinal pills and capsules is difficult for those with dysphagia. However, we wanted to discover why they struggle and conducted a survey with pharmacists.   

The no. 1 reason given was, “I think I will choke or gag on them”.  

In addition, we learnt that this doesn’t just affect patients with swallowing difficulties – it is a massive problem for people with a normal swallow function. 

If that’s something you hear – remember our latest Slõ Drink will help: Pill-Eze. It is created to make pills easy to swallow.  

A pre-thickened liquid, you simply put a pill on a spoon, cover with 5-10ml of Pill-Eze and drink together. Pill-Eze carries the pills, helping them glide down safely and though the esophagus.  

Better still, its sweet cherry flavour helps to make it a pleasant experience, hiding the powdery and sour taste of a pill’s coating. 

It’s also important to remember that Pill-Eze is inert. It doesn’t interact with medication in it or compromise the effects of medication like jams and yoghurts do, allowing people to take the full benefit of the medication they take. 

Taking a pill is such a small every day thing but so many people struggle with it and so the next time you hear someone say they struggle with pills, capsules or their medication – remember Pill-Eze makes taking pills easy.  

There’s more information at www.pill-eze.com. You can ask for a sample and its available to buy without prescription from us at: https://www.slodrinks.com/product/pill-eze/?attribute_pa_pack-size=250ml-bottle  

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Slõ Vitamin Drops

 

Those with dysphagia struggle to eat enough to maintain their essential nutritional intake and that compromises their micro-nutrient intake or essential vitamins.

We’ve therefore created Slõ Vitamin Drops.

The first are common deficiencies in dysphagia patients, Vitamin C and Vitamin D3 & K2.

Vitamin C – also known as the Sunshine vitamin is reported to help the immune system, especially in the cold weather. Whilst studies show Vitamin D3 & K2 combine to support the immune system, help maintain healthy bones and muscle function.

To make them easy to administer and take they are presented in a bottle with a pipette.

To use, patients and carers simply squeeze the bulb to draw a small amount into the pipette. Place over the tongue and release the bulb gently to deposit the Slõ Vitamin Drops at a speed the person can cope with.

By placing them directly on the tongue they are absorbed quickly, removing the need to swallow. No extra saliva should be created, as they have a subtle orange flavour.

Despite the fact Slõ Vitamin Drops are absorbed, we still print on the label, the IDDSI flow rates it is suitable for. As so many products just claim “Suitable for Dysphagia”, we believe there is patient safety in printing the IDDSI numbers.

It’s another small thing we hope makes a big difference to those with dysphagia.

To find out more, please click this link or copy and paste it into your browser: www.slodrinks.com/nutrition

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Slõ Vitamin Drops

As you know, eating with dysphagia is difficult and takes time which means many people may not have enough essential vitamins.

We’ve therefore created Slõ Vitamin drops to help.

The first are liquid Vitamin C and Vitamin D3 & K2.

Vitamin C – also known as the Sunshine vitamin is reported to help the immune system, especially in the cold weather. Whilst studies show Vitamin D3 & K2 combine to support the immune system, help maintain healthy bones and muscle function.

To make them easy to take we put them in a bottle with a pipette which gives you control.

To use, simply squeeze the bulb to draw a small amount into the pipette. Place over the tongue and release the bulb gently to deposit the Slõ Vitamin Drops.

By placing them directly on the tongue they are absorbed quickly, removing the need to swallow. All you taste is a subtle orange flavour.

Because they are absorbed, they are suitable for all IDDSI flow rates, and we print that on the bottle to give you confidence to use them.

We are sure they will be helpful and so if you want to find out more about improving essential vitamin intake safely, click here: www.slodrinks.com/nutrition/

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A multinational consensus on dysphagia in Parkinson’s disease (PD)

We recently came across the above paper via Pere Clave on LinkedIn.

He is the Director of Research, Innovation and Academic Development. Hospital de Mataró, Catalonia, Spain. With a special interest in Dysphagia he is the founding member of the European Society for Swallowing Disorders.

The objective was to review literature available and to define consensus statements on the screening and the diagnosis of dysphagia in PD, as well as on the impact of dysphagia on the prognosis and quality of life of PD patients.

The conclusion of the research provides a framework to guide the neurologist in the timely detection and accurate diagnosis of dysphagia in PD.

Regular readers of our post will know that there is very little existing or new research on dysphagia.

This is therefore incredibly useful and rare. Created with input from a multinational team it collated multiple sources to provide a useful framework for healthcare professionals.

To read the article in full click this link: https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00415-021-10739-8.pdf

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Safety concerns over parallel imports of thickeners and thickened ONS

We have been recently heard that there are concerns over the parallel imports of thickeners and thickened oral nutritional supplements and their labelling.

As it was something new to us, it might be new to you too and so thought we should share it with the aim of raising awareness and suggesting that the outer IDDSI labelled packaging matches the product packaging before use! Here is what has been reported…

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“As you know, background food and drink texture modification (including medications) are a widely accepted way to support the management of those with eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties (dysphagia).

However, parallel imported thickeners and ONS from countries that are not IDDSI-compliant are being reported and present significant risks.

The International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI)

In 2018, following an NHS improvement Patient Safety Alert NHS/PSA/RE/2018/004, the Department of Health issued HSC (SQSD) 16 /18 Resources to Support Safer Modification of Food and Drink, which mandated the global International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI) terminology and provided implementation guidance across Health and Social Care settings.

This meant a change in the way dysphagia diets were classified from the old “National Descriptors” to the new IDDSI levels. As a result, UK manufacturers of thickeners and thickened oral nutritional supplements changed their labelling and instructions accordingly.

Speech and Language Therapists (SLTs) could now assess patients who need texture modified food and/or thickened drinks and make recommendations on their required IDDSI level. While there was a transition period in 2018, there is now a full implementation across all four nations.

Risk of serious harm or death from choking on food or drink with incorrect IDDSI levels

People with dysphagia must receive their recommended fluid and food consistency to reduce the risk of complications, such as choking and aspiration. However, different Scoop Size Parallel import thickening products from countries that are not IDDSI compliant have different mixing instructions on the labels, and different scoop sizes to UK products.

Incorrect mixing instructions and incorrect scoop size can lead to patients receiving the incorrect thickness of food/drink. This poses a significant risk to patients who need texture modified food and/or thickened drinks. For example: a parallel import of thickener had a 1.5g scoop size, but the original scoop size was: 4.5g.

In this case, the parallel import was over-labelled to reflect the IDDSI levels framework, but the scoop supplied was the old 4.5g size. Therefore, a patient assessed as requiring a Level 1 could potentially receive parallel imported nutritional product and risk to patient safety.

While IDDSI is the recognised international descriptor, not every country has adopted this framework.

Parallel imported products could cause confusion and increase risk

SLTs and dietitians have reported that patients have received parallel imported products dispensed from community pharmacies that could cause confusion and increase patient risk.

These include thickening products that are not IDDSI compliant and thickened oral nutritional supplements in packs using older “Stage” terminology rather than the new “level” description.

Other reported issues that pose significant risk include Non-IDDSI descriptors clearly visible on the top of packaging, but the sides of the pack and individual bottles were not.

Parallel imported products are similar in appearance to the UK product, but include the pre-IDDSI “Stage” descriptor, causing confusion and increasing the risk of an incorrect IDDSI level product being used, e.g., “Stage 2” is not equivalent to IDDSI “Level 2”.

To ensure patient safety and reduce the risks associated with imports of thickeners and thickened ONS, it is vital products are IDDSI compliant.”

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We are confident that suppliers of these products will have worked hard to resolve the issue.

It is good practice to always double check the IDDSI flow rate. Check the outer packaging and product packaging have an IDDSI Level printed on them, they match and it doesn’t just claim “Suitable for Dysphagia”.

For more information about IDDSI labelling visit www.IDDSI.org or look through our site www.slodrinks.com

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The 300ml IDDSI Level 1

After trying our Slõ Milkshakes+ at IDDSI level 1, a clinician asked, “Why it is 300ml?” Especially as 200ml is the norm and Compact ONS are popular.

If that has crossed your mind, we thought we should explain.

The IDDSI level 1 is a relatively new flow rate description, and we took this as an opportunity to question what would be an ideal way to present an ONS specifically for patients needing this flow rate.

In conversations with healthcare providers, those prescribed IDDSI Level 1 are either close to recovering full swallow control or only have a slight swallowing difficulty.

As a result – and we know this doesn’t apply to all patients on IDDSI Level 1 – they are probably more active than a dysphagia patient on IDDSI Level 2 and above. They, therefore, need a high nutritional intake and hydration levels.

The simplest way to achieve this combination is to provide an ONS in 300ml. It provides 27g+ of protein, 400+ calories, + a mix of 25 vitamins and minerals and 300ml of fluid in one drink.

Having a pre-thickened ONS at this size also saves time, as it can be kept in the fridge all day and taken out when needed. Like all Slõ Milkshakes+, our IDDSI Level 1 maintains the same safe flow rate all day.

There is an argument to say nutritional supplements should be presented in a small volume as that allows patients to obtain hydration from other fluids they prefer. But that is for patients with a normal swallow.

Those with dysphagia take time to drink and find it tiring. If we can therefore help them hydrate and increase their nutrition intake at the same time, that becomes an effective solution.

Ultimately, it is all about the patient and if they can drink that volume straight away or during the day they will benefit. If you would therefore like to see how beneficial your patients will find them, we can post samples direct to them for you.

Just go to www.slodrinks.com at the top of the page click the HCP button to enter the Clinicians’ Library. When there, just click the sample button to open the encrypted online form and enter your patients’ details.

We trust you find this helpful.

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IDDSI Survey

As you know the IDDSI (www.IDDSI.org) Framework has been in place in the UK for a few years now and recently a range of UK based IDDSI focused healthcare and business professionals have come together to form the UK IDDSI reference group (UKIRG).  I am a member of the group.

The aim of the group is to build on the implementation work completed since IDDSI was launched in the UK in 2018.  By raising further awareness about the framework, we are aiming to extend its use and ensure HCPs are better supported when using the framework.

To support this work, we are gathering information to form a real understanding about what you and your colleagues think and know about the framework.

Any feedback you provide will help us to plan and implement the best way forward to support you and the ongoing use of IDDSI in the UK.

To help us do that – please complete and return this quick questionnaire; and share or forward it to your colleagues.

https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/J7HNK86

The closing date for responses is Thursday 30th September 2021.

Thanks.

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Dysphagia Training for Care Staff and Carers

We were recently made aware of this course and want to share it with you.  

Having discussed it with Barbara – the Principal Pathologist – we are sure it will be useful to you or those you work with as it covers lots of issues faced by Care Staff. 

Consequently, we asked Barbara to provide a summary for you before you visit: safeswallowing.com.au 

“The Course is suitable for all staff such as PCAs, nurses and FSA as it covers the basics of swallowing safety and food and fluid modifications. I have outlined the Course content below. 

Ideally the Course needs to be completed within one month of sending the link to the staff members. It takes an hour to complete and those who pass receive a Certificate of Successful Completion.  

PART ONE 

  1. Why Do a Safe Swallowing Education Program?
    a. How Common are Swallowing Problems?
    b. Compliance & Duty of Care
  1. What is a Swallowing Problem? (Dysphagia)
    a. Some terms explained
    b. Normal Swallow
    c. Abnormal Swallow
  1. Causes of Swallowing Problems
  1. Symptoms of Swallowing Problems
    a. What to look for 
  1. Swallowing Assessment
    a. What is a Speech Pathologist’s Role in Swallowing Problems?
  1. Contributing Factors 

 PART TWO 

  1. Managing Safe Swallowing
    a. Safe Swallowing Procedures

    b. Your important role as a carer 
  1. IDDSI Food and Fluid Modifications 

Thank you for your interest and understanding that swallowing safety is paramount in prevention, not only of a choking risk, but also that of potentially fatal, aspiration pneumonia”. 

Kind regards 

Barbara Braithwaite 

Principal Speech Pathologist Safe Swallowing Team https://safeswallowing.com.au  


 

We hope you find it helpful. 

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IDDSI Level 1 ONS Labels

IDDSI Level 1, Slightly Thick flow rate is increasingly being prescribed to patients. It provides a perfect last step for a patient to progress onto ordinary – thin fluids.

Whilst transitioning to thin fluids, patients can still need to supplement their nutritional intake. As a direct result we created our Slõ Milkshakes+ ONS at IDDSI Level 1.

They are the only ONS clearly labelled IDDSI Level 1 available on prescription.

There are lots of ONS available that claim to be an IDDSI Level 1. However, the packaging does not feature an IDDSI Level and can only be used after reading a long list of warnings.

As you can imagine, at point of use, this would cause confusion, especially in a care facility with multiple carer’s. They know their client(s) is still recovering from dysphagia and still needs thickened fluids. Why are they having an ONS that does not feature an IDDSI flow rate?

If this is also a concern for you, you can eliminate it by prescribing our Slõ Milkshakes+ IDDSI Level 1, with the PIP Codes below.

IDDSI Level Strawberry Chocolate Banana
1 4160271 4160289 4176152

 

Each packet features clear pictorial/ written instructions and details about temperature. You can therefore be confident it is safe for your patient to swallow and help them boost their protein levels by a huge 27g.

They should enjoy them too. Not too sweet, no metallic aftertaste they taste good made with whole fresh milk from the fridge.

We hope you find them helpful. In the meantime, if you want a sample sent direct to your patient you can use our encrypted on-line form. Go to www.slodrinks.com and at the top of the page click the HCP button. When in the Clinicians Library, just click the Sample button to open the form and complete your details.

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IDDSI Level 1 ONS Labels

IDDSI Level 1, Slightly Thick flow rate is increasingly being prescribed to patients. It provides a perfect last step for people to progress onto ordinary – thin fluids.

However, whilst transitioning to thin fluids, people can still need to supplement their nutritional intake. As a direct result we created Slõ Milkshakes+ ONS at IDDSI Level 1.

They are the only available oral nutritional supplement – clearly labelled IDDSI Level 1. There are lots of ONS available that claim to be an IDDSI Level 1. However, the packaging does not feature the IDDSI Level 1.

That can be a worry for many, who are unsure if the completed drink will be safe. After making so much progress, why take the risk drinking something that might be OK when you can be sure a Slõ Milkshake+ is safe to swallow and matches the IDDSI Level 1.

Like all our Slõ Milkshake+ they are not too sweet, have no metallic aftertaste and taste fresh made with whole milk from the fridge. They also provide a huge amount of protein, 27g!

If you are therefore living with dysphagia and need fluids at IDDSI Level 1, you may find them very useful and can read more about them here: www.slodrinks.com/shop

We hope you find them helpful.

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WhatsApp for Slõ Drinks

Today, we all want answers quickly. That is especially true for Clinicians when they are with a patient, who asks a question they can’t answer. 

As time is short, they may not have time to search the web or email, which means coming back with an answer. 

This happened to a clinician that contacted us after leaving a patient. As a result, we wanted to make things easier. 

Our solution was to provide the fastest and most secure way to contact us: WhatsApp. 

We have therefore set up a WhatsApp Slõ Drinks account for clinicians to contact us that needs an answer quickly and securely. WhatsApp messages are sent end to end encryption which makes it a safe way to communicate and send patient details for samples. 

One of us will be there to answer your questions from 8.30am to 5pm (GMT) Monday to Friday. Just add this number to your phone: T: 07538 803175

 After adding us – try sending us a Hello or a question – so you know we are connected. 

 It’s another little thing we hope makes a big difference to you. 

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A Slõ Story

2021

Slõ Milkshakes+ Banana flavour was approved for prescription. Now Clinicians and their patients have access to the widest range of pre-thickened ONS flavours and flow rates in the world. 

Healthcare Professionals made us aware of the issues surrounding boosting the protein levels of those diagnosed with dysphagia and with small appetites. We therefore decided to see if we could help and find a way to fortify soups. 

The result was Slõ Proteins. Available as Whey, Soy and Pea, they are flavourless. Easily dissolvable and digestible (they are short chain proteins) they can boost the protein levels of soups AND snacks, meals and desserts. One 15g spoon provides 12g of protein. Available to buy from us at the moment – we are reviewing the possibility of putting it on prescription. 

Slõ Juice+ patient testing continues and we hope to have this 1st pre-thickened vegan ONS on prescription by the end of 2021 together with Pill-Eze. 


2020

Slõ Juice+ is created. The first pre-thickened and powdered oral nutritional supplement which is suitable for Vegans. A program of patient testing is started. 

Slõ Milkshake+ Banana flavour is created and a program of patient testing starts. 

When the IDDSI flow rates were introduced they included a new category IDDSI 1- Slightly Thick. Never used before it was slow to be adopted by prescribing clinicians, but demand for it is growing.  

All Slõ Drinks can therefore now be made at this level and an application to the ACBS has been made to approve Slõ Milkshakes+ at this level. 


2019

Working with a specialist manufacture, we create our latest Slõ Drink – a liquid that makes pills easy to swallow.

Pill-Eze is a pre-thickened liquid which wraps around a tablet and holds it allowing it to be safely swallowed. It has a sweet cherry flavour to hide the taste of the pill or capsule in it.
On arrival at the stomach it quickly dissipates leaving the pill to provide its intended relief.

Importantly, it is virtually chemically inert and compares to the Ph level of the stomach (4.2pH).

Subjected to over 100 scientific compatibility studies and as a result with the exceptions of: effervescent and crushed tablets; rapid dissolving, sustained release medication or those containing Iodine – Pill-Eze is compatible with pills, tablets and (liquid containing) capsules, vitamin preparations, food supplements and other solid dosage forms meant to be swallowed

Pill-Eze will dramatically reduce the need to use expensive liquid medicine preparations, however it will take time to be accepted. Liquid preparations have been used for a long time.

But the UK’s NHS and other Health Authorities around the world are under huge financial pressure to reduce spend on medication. As Pill-Eze can be used with off-licence generic medications it will be reviewed as an affordable and viable alternative.

There trend towards milk alternatives that are suitable for a Vegan diet, kick starts research into producing a water based oral nutritional supplements.


2018

A new way of describing flow rates was launched in the UK called the International Dysphagia Diet Standardization Initiative (IDDSI).

All packaging is revised, and we become the first company to print these terms on our packaging.

Reducing cross contamination in hospitals and care facilities becomes a priority for the NHS. Working with our sachet supplier, we become the first company to apply an antibacterial varnish to all our sachets. This prevents pathogens sticking to the packaging to reduce the risks of contamination.


2017

Meetings with clinicians in an Acute and Community settings to introduce Slõ Milkshakes+ take place throughout the year.

At one of these meeting a Dietitian highlights those with swallowing difficulties are deficient in vitamins and minerals. This is a direct result of not being able to consume large meals or eat in the quantities required to maintain a balanced diet. Vitamin and mineral pills are available but cannot be swallowed safely.

Our solution was to create oral nutritional sprays: Slõ Vitamin Sprays.

These deposit the Recommended Daily Allowance of 12 essential vitamins on the inside of the cheek. There they are absorbed quickly through the buccal mucosa – inside of the cheek wall.

Whilst this worked well, it wasn’t popular and was removed from sale at the end of 2018.
However, it may just be ahead of its time. It provides a safe method of providing essential nutrients and may therefore re-appear in the future.


2016

Slõ Milkshakes+ are approved and go on sale in March. They are the 1st and only powdered pre-thickened oral nutritional supplement in the world.

The first production run arrives unbranded to test the packaging design. All 40,000 sachets are labelled by hand, front and back. After making them ready just 7 sachets are sold. In April sales double to 14 sachets.

Research continues into how to make solid dose medication safer to swallow.


2015

Slõ Milkshakes+ testing begins with patients and proves successful. The data is collected, and an application made to the ACBS to make it available for Healthcare Professionals to prescribe. It is rejected. A revised application is submitted.

The first enquiry is received about how to use Slõ Drinks with medicinal pills.

Taking solid dose medication is difficult to impossible for those with swallowing difficulties. There are many legal issues surrounding the crushing of pills and adding them to texture modified food and drinks. For many the only alternative is use liquid formulations which are expensive and don’t match the flow rate that people need – ultimately making them unsafe.

A development plan is launched to source a solution.

The first order from America is received.


2014

Slõ Drinks in cups and Slõ Drinks sachets continue to sell.

Research continues to find ways to provide a palatable powdered pre-thickened oral nutritional supplement.

It highlights that current practice is to attempt to thicken supplements with starch and gum thickeners which do not work, (the high fat content of these supplements prevents these thickeners bonding to it) or use expensive ready to drink alternatives.

The first prototypes are produced ready for testing in 2015 and are called Slõ Milkshakes+.

The Slõ Drinkers Club is launched on the website entitling buyers to discounts.


2013

A Pediatric Dietitian heard about Slõ Wine and wanted to know if we could make fizzy drinks safer to swallow. One of her clients wanted cola but could not thicken it.

Slõ Fizzy was shortly available. It changes any carbonated drink into Slõ Cola, Slõ 7UP, Slõ Sprite including Slõ Carbonated water. It also trapped the bubbles in the drink which produced a pleasant popping sensation on the tongue.

Based on this success, attempts were made to thicken carbonated alcoholic drinks. Sachets were then made available to create Slõ Beer and Slõ Cider.

This year saw the start of the biggest research project undertaken. We were asked if we could create a milk based oral nutritional supplement (ONS) that is thickened

It would be another 3 years before it would finally make it to market.


2012

A Dietitian made contact to ask if we had an alcoholic range. Her elderly patient wanted to take Communion and couldn’t because she was diagnosed with dysphagia.

After extensive research a tasteless, quick dissolving thickener that would thicken wine was found. A sample containing enough for one glass was packaged and sent – with great success.

Subsequently, the sachet and packaging was refined to contain enough of our thickener to change one UK standard pub measure (175ml) of red, white or rose wine into a Slõ Wine
suitable for any swallowing difficulty.

This led to a fundamental change in how Slõ Drinks were made.

We would test our thickeners in a drink to decide which was most effective. Recording how the fats, sugars and pH levels of each drink affected the performance of the thickener. The volume required to make a drink to a specific consistency was calculated and then put into a single serve sachet. To make a safe drink, the sachet contents simply needed to be mixed with the volume of liquid we specified.


2011

At a meeting with a diverse group of healthcare professionals, the benefits of using Slõ Drinks to hydrate patients was discussed. One clinician started to laugh and suggested we should produce Sloe Gin – a British liquor.

She revealed that people with swallowing difficulties do want alcohol. As a company that focused on providing ways for this patient group to drink safely and maintain their hydration levels – it was dismissed as a joke.

Mathew believes every passing comment should be taken seriously and is always worth reviewing. Subsequent research highlighted there was a need to make alcohol safer to swallow. Those with swallowing difficulties don’t want to drink to get drunk. They want to just enjoy the taste and the social side of drinking.

The possibilities of producing ways to make Slõ alcoholic drinks were discussed but no action was taken.


2010

To make Slõ Soup available to patient after leaving hospital, it was trialed with patients. testing for safety, taste, ease of use and palatability. All the data required was collected over the next 10 months with positive results.

Unfortunately, by the end of 2010 additional research showed that whilst savoury nutritional supplements have a use, it would be limited. As a direct result, it was decided to terminate the project.

Slõ Cold Hot and Cold Drinks are now being used across the Country.


2009

Slõ Hot Drinks are approved by the ACBS.

A very significant meeting happened this year.

For the first time a Dietitian attended a meeting organized by the Speech and Language Therapy team. She asked if we could provide savoury oral nutritional thickened drinks.

This led to research into the viability of producing a thickened high protein, high calorie soup.

By mid-2010 one had been created. Using only natural ingredients, it was presented ready to use and only needed reheating.


2008

Sale continue to grow but slowly. Most hospitals have contracts with international Pharma companies.

An application was therefore made to the National Health Service’ own supplier – NHS Supplies to be listed on the Enteral Feeds contract. Listed in the contract every NHS hospital ward can order Slõ Drinks direct.


2007

Product development was put on hold on focus switched to selling Slõ Drinks to hospitals.


2006

Initial research reviewed current preparation practice, what drinks were being served and how they could be improved.

Patients were given drinks too thick or too thin for their swallowing ability. Some drinks separated within minutes. Some got thicker. Drinks stirred with the end of a pen and passed to patients with iceberg-sized un-dissolved pieces of thickener floating on the top of them.
One person was recorded making a thickened drink and spilling more thickener around the cup than it.

Over several months he met with clinicians, therapists and carers around the UK using tins of thickeners presenting his solution.

It was a cup containing a powdered drink flavouring and a specific volume of thickener. To make, water was added. It would always match the flow rate the patient needed and therefore be safer to swallow.

Some said, “You’re wasting your time.” Others said, “We’ve been using tins of thickener for years and it does the job. Why change now?” Despite that, he continued taking on useful opinions and suggestions, until thousands of miles, plenty of late nights, early mornings and weekends – Mid 2006 – success.

Slõ Drinks in cups were presented to Manchester Royal Infirmary and no changes requested. The following day presented them to the Royal Liverpool and the same positive response.

Shortly after he received an order and both Hospitals started to use them. That led to the next development – putting Slõ Drinks on prescription.

The UK’s NHS provides a service called Continuity of Care. If a patient is provided a product in the hospital it should be available to them after discharge on prescription.

As result a prescription application had to be made to the ACBS (The Advisory Committee for Borderline Substances). After months of collecting the data required to prove their suitability and submit an application.

The Slõ Cold Juice drinks were approved. Unfortunately, the hot drinks were not and required further evidence to prove their case.

Slõ Hot Chocolate, Slõ White Coffee and Slõ White Tea were finally approved and available in 2009.


2005

Slõ Drinks started because of a chance conversation our Founder, Mathew had with a Speech and Language Therapist on a Monday afternoon in a Manchester hospital.

Walking out of a puree tasting he asked her, “Is there anything else your dysphagia patients would like?” She replied, “A pleasant thickened drink.”

Mathew spent the majority of his working life in the food and drink industry, promoting brands and creating new products for them. Specializing in the Catering Sector for beer and restaurant brands, he started to work in the Healthcare sector. Focusing on special diets for the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) Hospitals.

During this time, he began to understand how important nutrition is for a patient’s recovery and wellbeing, which ultimately introduced him to people with swallowing difficulties – dysphagia and the meeting with the Speech Therapist that inspired the launch of Slõ Drinks.

Swallowing difficulties can range from slight to severe and once diagnosed, its medical term is Dysphagia. It affects the epiglottis, the flap of skin at the top of lungs/stomach. This doesn’t close quickly enough, and so ordinary foods go into the lungs instead of the stomach and induce choking. Clinicians call this aspiration. It can lead to aspiration pneumonia, malnutrition and worse.

To prevent these complications, meals need to be pureed, mashed or just soft. It was after presenting these meals that Mathew had his conversation.

After leaving the hospital he Googled thickened drinks and discovered tins of thickener were the product of choice. These contain a modified maize starch which you spooned into a drink to thicken it up.

This format had been used for over decade with no developments and several brands providing the same product offering.

When thickener from tins is added to a drink, it doesn’t work straight away and so carers tend to add more. They then pass to the drinker a drink that looks like grey wallpaper paste. It can also turn the taste of a drink sour. The thickener may not have dissolved and will need sieving through teeth and leave a gritty sticky residue on their teeth.

He couldn’t believe in the 21st century those with dysphagia have to put up with drinks like this. They should still be able to have something enjoyable to drink – despite their condition.
That started a research project.

 

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Pill-Eze Calculator

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Make every mouthful matter with Slõ Protein Powders

As you know, for those with dysphagia, the whole process of eating a meal stressful and exhausting, resulting in a diet lacking in essential protein and nutrients which in turn increase the risks of malnutrition, which is why getting the most out of every mouthful is vital.

The British Nutrition Foundation says protein is essential for growth and repair of the body and maintenance of good health.  As well as helping maintain a healthy weight and muscle strength, proteins give the body more energy. They also promote wound healing and bone health, as well as helping the body to absorb key nutrients, lower blood pressure and cholesterol, while promoting better concentration and stabilising blood sugar levels.

At Slõ Drinks, we understand how difficult it is ensuring dysphagia patients and those with swallowing difficulties maintain their nutritional intake.

Consequently, we decided to see if we could help.

We had been struggling to create savoury oral nutritional supplements for a few years.  With so many patient tastes to accommodate, we couldn’t satisfy everyone. The answer came when one of the team put their lunch – a tin of soup; on their desk next to a sample of one of our Slõ Milkshakes+ proteins. This got us thinking – What if…?

The result was Slõ Protein powders: Slõ Soy, Whey and Pea Protein which your patients and their carers can use to create Slõ Savoury Supplements.

These specially formulated Soy, Whey and Pea Protein powders enable those with swallowing difficulties and a loss of appetite to increase their protein levels, easily, effectively and safely.

They make sure every mouthful matters and is packed with essential protein. That in turn will help patients stay nourished and eliminates the need to use high calorie fortifiers like full fat butter, creams and oils, which can have a detrimental effect on health,

The Slõ Protein Powders range includes Soy, Whey and Pea Protein powders to accommodate all dietary needs. Tasteless, they dissolve easily in both hot and cold foods, making them a safe and ideal addition to favourite soups, meals and desserts. Boosting protein levels and making every mouthful matter.

Every 15g (heaped tablespoon) will fortify meals with 12g of protein!

Only available to buy from us at the moment – you can find more information about Slõ Protein Powders at www.slodrinks.com/nutrition

You can also download an information and data sheet here: Slõ Proteins Data Sheet.

We hope you and your patients find them helpful.

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Make every mouthful matter with Slõ Protein Powders

If you are concerned about your nutritional intake or that of someone you care for, try Slõ Protein Powders.

These protein-boosting Soy, Whey and Pea Protein powders are not for body builders – they are a way for all ages of with swallowing difficulties to increase protein levels, easily and safely.

Some – especially older people; and those living with dysphagia struggle with their appetites and can find the whole process of eating a meal stressful and exhausting. This can result in a diet lacking in essential protein and nutrients, which is why getting the most nutritional benefit out of every mouthful is vital.

According to the British Nutrition Foundation, protein is essential for growth and repair of the body and maintenance of good health.  As well as helping maintain a healthy weight and muscle strength, proteins give the body more energy. They also promote wound healing and bone health, as well as helping the body to absorb key nutrients, lower blood pressure and cholesterol, while promoting better concentration and stabilising blood sugar levels.

So, instead of using high calorie fortifiers like full fat butter, creams and oils that can ultimately have a detrimental effect on health, Slõ Protein Powders can help ensure every mouthful is packed with essential protein, helping you or the person you care about to stay healthy and nourished.

Developed by us, using our experience in providing nutritional supplements to those with dysphagia, (Slõ Milkshakes+), the Slõ Protein Powders range includes Soy, Whey and Pea Protein powders.

Tasteless, they dissolve easily in both hot and cold foods, making them a safe and ideal addition to favourite soups, meals and desserts. Making every mouthful matter and boosting protein levels.

Depending on which protein is used – for every 15g (heaped tablespoon) a dish will be fortified with 12g of protein!

For more information about Slõ Protein Powders can help you or someone you care for, visit www.slodrinks.com/nutrition.

 

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IDDSI Flow Rates at Room Temperature

Did you know – there is currently a lot of discussion about how room temperature affects thickened drink flow rates – specifically pre-thickened ONS?

Temperature affects the way thickener works. As a result, drinks thin out as they warm up, putting the drinker at risk of aspiration and readmission. This is something we have always known and compensated for in all Slõ Drinks. 

You can see the lengths we go to ensure every Slõ Drink matches an IDDSI flow rate here: https://www.slodrinks.com/iddsi-flow-test-syringe-test/ 

Consequently, Slõ Milkshakes+ contain enough thickener to match the prescribed flow rate for 3 hours at room temperature. Here in the UK that’s appox. 18°C. After this point, the milk in them typically starts to warm and room temperature milk is not nice. 

However, if a Slõ Milkshakes+ is kept in the fridge and taken out when required they will be safe to drink all day. 

To start making Slõ Drinks that are always safer to drink, click here.

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Slõ Milkshakes+ now available at IDDSI Levels 1 & 4

Now, for the first time, dysphagia patients needing nutritional support and prescribed drinks at IDDSI Levels 1, 2, 3 or 4 can maintain their calorie and nutrition intake safely with our unique range of pre-thickened powdered oral nutritional supplements.

Our Slõ Milkshakes+ are now available at IDDSI Levels 1 & 4 flow rates.

These high-protein, high-calorie supplements contain 25 essential vitamins and minerals. Created to help clinicians provide safe nutritional support for patients with swallowing difficulties, Slõ Milkshakes+ eliminate confusion around flow rates with clear labelling and the risks associated with trying to thicken ONS with starch and gum thickeners.

Slõ Milkshakes+ also reduce the expense associated with ready-to-drink thickened ONS, offering clinicians one cost-effective solution, from one company, for every degree of dysphagia.

Available in hygienic, (all packs have an anti-bacterial coating) recyclable sachets containing a single dose of our unique thickener formulated to work with whole milk. Carers and patients simply mix the thickener with the volume of milk we specify to produce a perfectly smooth ONS at IDDSI Level 1,2, 3 or 4.

Importantly, the volume of milk changes with each flow rate to accommodate the patient. For example, a patient on IDDSI Level 1 needs to drink more, so it is made with 300mls, while those on Levels 2 and 3 can cope with 200mls, but those on Level 4 can only take a maximum of 100mls.

Whichever Slõ Milkshakes+ is made the consistency remains stable and can be kept in the fridge all day, so there is no pressure on your patient to drink it all at once.

Available in chocolate and strawberry flavours, they are not too sweet and have no minerally aftertaste making it easier to gain compliance. Banana flavour will be available soon.

By adding these new flow rates to our range, we hope to help increase the nutritional intake and reduce the fear and anxiety around trying to eat enough at mealtimes for all those with dysphagia – whatever their swallowing ability; here in the UK and around the world.