Abstract
<jats:p>Oral nutritional support should be considered for patients with inadequate food and fluid intakes to meet requirements, unless they cannot swallow safely, have a non‐functioning gastrointestinal system or if no benefit is anticipated, for example, end‐of‐life care. Once the need for nutrition support has been identified and underlying causes addressed, it is important to assess the patient's needs in a systematic and evidence‐based way. Appropriate strategies to improve nutritional intake should be considered part of dietary counselling. Although the PASS statement is the endpoint of the assessment, there should be forethought during the assessment to identify the barriers that are unique to the patient to support the individualised plan of care. The assessment with the rationale and a plan of care should be documented in line with the British Dietetic Association Process and Model.</jats:p>