# NG feeding authority?

**URL:** <https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/t/ng-feeding-authority/3950>\
**Category:** Mental Health Act\
**Created:** [2 August 2025 18:36 UTC](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/t/ng-feeding-authority/3950 "2025-08-02T18:36:22Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![GemmaH](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/g/e495f1/32.png) [@GemmaH](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/u/GemmaH)\
**Post date:** [2 August 2025 18:36 UTC](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/t/ng-feeding-authority/3950/1 "2025-08-02T18:36:22Z")

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Evening all.  
Can someone please advise/help at what paperwork/authority I should see regarding a s3 subject to NG feeding? New one for me!

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**Author:** ![Tamburrt](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@Tamburrt](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/u/Tamburrt)\
**Post date:** [5 August 2025 18:51 UTC](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/t/ng-feeding-authority/3950/2 "2025-08-05T18:51:05Z")

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Not quite sure what I understand the implicit questions.  
But the minimum documents I would expect to see would be

- **Rationale and Treatment Plan** : The patient’s medical notes should document the rationale for NG feeding, including the aims and the patient’s/family’s wishes.
- **Consent Documentation** : The discussion about consent and the patient’s decision should be clearly documented in the patient’s notes.
- **Lack of Capacity** : If the patient lacks capacity, a “best interests decision” should be made in line with the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA), and this decision should be clearly documented.in line with ([Mental Capacity Act - Social care and support guide - NHS](https://www.nhs.uk/social-care-and-support/making-decisions-for-someone-else/mental-capacity-act/)).
- **Key Information to Record at Insertion** : This includes the type and size of the tube, the external length at the nostril, the date and time of insertion, and the method used to confirm tube position.
- **Ongoing Documentation** : Regular checks on the tube’s position (e.g., pH of aspirate) and external markings must be documented on the fluid chart or patient record.
- **X-Ray Documentation (if applicable)**: If X-rays are used to confirm tube position, documentation must include the date and time, patient ID, who authorized the X-ray, who confirmed the position, and the rationale for the confirmation.

Hope this helps

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**Author:** ![Anon22](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/958977/32.png) [@Anon22](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/u/Anon22)\
**Post date:** [8 August 2025 20:53 UTC](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/t/ng-feeding-authority/3950/3 "2025-08-08T20:53:38Z")

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With regards to the Mental Health Act, I would say there is no paperwork. If the patient has a diagnosis of anorexia, then NG feeding could potentially be authorised via s63 of the Act (unlike s62, there is no statutory form for this - it therefore gets quite tricky to monitor its use). The reasoning for the decision should be clearly documented in the patient notes.