Malnourished patients on the rise
Updated on 05 August 2007
Numbers of people leaving NHS hospitals in England in a state of malnutrition rose by almost two-thirds so far this decade, official statistics have revealed.
The increase included a 13% jump to 2,265 in 2005/06, the most recent year for which figures are available.
The rise came as the numbers of hospital meals which were thrown away untouched by patients went up by 22% to more than 13 million.
At an average cost of £2.65, wasted meals worth more than £162 million have been thrown away by the NHS in the past five years alone, he said.
Official figures released by health minister Dawn Primarolo in response to a parliamentary question from Mr O'Brien showed that 1,944 patients were diagnosed as malnourished when admitted to NHS hospitals in England in 2005/06, and 2,265 were malnourished at the time of discharge.
The 321 becoming malnourished while in hospital was more than double the 157 recorded in 2000/01, when the level of malnutrition at admission was 1,224 and at discharge 1,381.
The total of 2,265 discharged while malnourished in 2005/06 was 13% up on the 2,006 recorded in 2004/05 and 64% up on the 1,381 in 2000/01.
A Department of Health spokeswoman said: "Good food is important for all patients, and standards have risen. But we are aware that there are times when this does not happen and this is not acceptable.
"There is no excuse for patients not getting the food they need and any necessary help to eat that food.
"The Department of Health has recognised this as a priority issue. Following on from the Dignity in Care Campaign, NHS Trusts across the country are putting schemes in place to ensure people do not become malnourished in hospital. These include introducing protected mealtimes and 'red tray' systems for people who are at risk of malnutrition."
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