What is the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool ('MUST') ?
‘MUST’ is a five- step nationally recognised and validated screening tool to identify ADULTS who are malnourished or at risk of malnutrition. It is the most commonly used screening tool in the UK and is suitable for use in hospitals, community and other care settings.
This tool can be completed electronically using the on line 'MUST' calculator or manually as outlined below:
The ‘MUST’ is reproduced here with the kind permission of BAPEN (British Association for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition). For further information on ‘MUST’ – www.bapen.org.uk
Copies of the ‘MUST’ materials ('MUST' Toolkit) are available to download in PDF format, free of charge:
The ‘MUST’ Explanatory Booklet is also available to download as a PDF:
View the booklet here
Food First and Homemade Nourishing Drinks Factsheets
British Dietetic Association, Food Fact Sheet - 'Malnutrition'
Community Dietetic Department Referral Form
BAPEN ‘MUST’ e-learning is available for Blackpool Teaching Hospital staff via the intranet e-learning pages, entitled: ‘000 Nutritional Screening, A ‘MUST’ for Healthcare in Hospital’.
NHS staff and BAPEN members can access BAPENS library of e-learning via their virtual learning environment: