17million hospital food meals are wasted
One in 10 hospital meals is thrown away untouched, according to figures which raise fresh concerns over the hidden scandal of malnutrition among NHS patients. More than 17 million platefuls went into the bin last year, amid complaints from patients' organisations that elderly and confused patients are not being given the help they need to eat, and that many are missing meals.
Concerns were highlighted last week by the case of Sarah Ingham, aged 91, who lost three-and-a-half stone while in hospital. She was meant to be on a diet of purées and energy drinks to help her eat, but her family said they were forced to take food onto the ward because she was not getting her special meals.
Andrew Lansley, the shadow health secretary, said it was crucial that the NHS provided proper continuity of care. 'Missed hospital meals are one illustration of a more general problem that no one person takes responsibility for observing patients and monitoring their progress, including nutrition,' he said.
A new report from the European Nutrition for Health Alliance warns that one in 10 people entering a nursing home lose five per cent of their body weight within the first month, and more within six months. Up to 60 per cent of nursing home residents and 40 per cent of those admitted to hospital are malnourished.
Although in some cases that will be related to their medical condition, such as gastric diseases which prevent them absorbing nutrients, or depression which stops them wanting to eat, the charity Age Concern says it has received numerous complaints from people anxious that elderly relatives are missing meals.
'We get complaints from the adult children of older people who have been in hospital about the food available,' said Philip Hurst, policy officer for Age Concern.
He added: 'We have had numerous examples of someone who is blind just having the food put in front of them and getting no help to eat it. Although they are in an unfamiliar place, they are not given the support or encouragement to eat, and it's just recorded that they didn't eat it, assuming they didn't want it.'
http://politics.guardian.co.uk/publicservices/story/0,11032,1588135,00.html
Concerns were highlighted last week by the case of Sarah Ingham, aged 91, who lost three-and-a-half stone while in hospital. She was meant to be on a diet of purées and energy drinks to help her eat, but her family said they were forced to take food onto the ward because she was not getting her special meals.
Andrew Lansley, the shadow health secretary, said it was crucial that the NHS provided proper continuity of care. 'Missed hospital meals are one illustration of a more general problem that no one person takes responsibility for observing patients and monitoring their progress, including nutrition,' he said.
A new report from the European Nutrition for Health Alliance warns that one in 10 people entering a nursing home lose five per cent of their body weight within the first month, and more within six months. Up to 60 per cent of nursing home residents and 40 per cent of those admitted to hospital are malnourished.
Although in some cases that will be related to their medical condition, such as gastric diseases which prevent them absorbing nutrients, or depression which stops them wanting to eat, the charity Age Concern says it has received numerous complaints from people anxious that elderly relatives are missing meals.
'We get complaints from the adult children of older people who have been in hospital about the food available,' said Philip Hurst, policy officer for Age Concern.
He added: 'We have had numerous examples of someone who is blind just having the food put in front of them and getting no help to eat it. Although they are in an unfamiliar place, they are not given the support or encouragement to eat, and it's just recorded that they didn't eat it, assuming they didn't want it.'
http://politics.guardian.co.uk/publicservices/story/0,11032,1588135,00.html
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