''Reliably'' in descriptor 'Taking Nutrition"

Hi Craig3474,
Descriptor is as follows
a.Can take nutrition unaided. 0 points
b.Needs - (i) to use an aid or appliance to be able to take nutrition; or (ii) supervision to be able to take nutrition; or (iii) assistance to be able to cut up food. 2 points
c.Needs a therapeutic source to be able to take nutrition. 2 points..
d.Needs prompting to be able to take nutrition. 4 points
e.Needs assistance to be able to manage a therapeutic source to take nutrition. 6 points
f.Cannot convey food and drink to their mouth and needs another person to do so. 10 points
First to unpick the descriptor 2 c and e apply to feeding tube - rather than eating via the mouth so will only apply in these limited circumstances.

What help would ensure you could eat/drink safely, repeatedly, in an acceptable manner and in a reasonable time?
Do you need help to chop up food?
Do you need supervision to prevent choking?
Could your diet be modified in some way to avoid troublesome food?
Some sort of gadget? - perhaps to puree food to remove lumps
If so then you would fall under 2b.

If you don't eat as often as you should maybe due to pain, difficulty etc then perhaps you need prompting?

I agree, if you don't finish meals, or it takes over 1 hour, I think that would be too slow and not acceptable- both because if not finishing and because it is likely any hot food will be well cold by then.
I have checked caselaw there is no help to define 2f and nothing in the definitions either. It very specifically states can not convey food and drink to the mouth and needs another to help. On a matter of legal construction the use of AND means both food AND drink rather that just food or just drink.
No definition of 'convey' so normal dictionary definition such as 'to bring something from one place to another ' nothing complicated there. I think thus section genuinely means you physically can't get food and drink from the plate/cup into your mouth. There is nothing about the inability to chew or swallow.
So, I think there are 2 generic possibilities to achieve points here
1. Some sort of limb problem- it is likely to be both arms either amputation or immobility, maybe lack of grip means food etc is always dropped. It could possibly be a neck problem with the same effect. It might be caused by involuntary large spasms. It could also be via coma or semi consciousness.
2. Some sort of mental health problem (which is likely to be severe) whereby the person doesn't comprehend the need for feeding. They may require to be force fed.
If the reason why it takes you so long to eat is due to the physical action of raising food/drink to mouth level and or not spilling this, and hence the need for someone eg to hold the spoon, get food on it, and present this in front of your mouth, and do similar by presenting a cup then you can score 10 points under 2f.
I hope this helps.

LL26