"Malnutrition 'a widespread risk'", BBC News, November 27, 2007,
Link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7112742.stm

A quarter of all adults admitted to hospital and care homes in the UK
are at risk of malnutrition, a major survey has found.

The British Association for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (Bapen)
collected data on 11,665 new admissions to 372 institutions over three
days.

The association is calling for nutrition screening on admission as
standard for all patients.

Ministers said an action plan had been launched to improve services.

The Bapen survey found that it was not just older patients who were at
risk of malnutrition.

Patients under the age of 30 had a 27% risk of malnutrition, compared
with a 34% for those over 80.

Health impact

Malnourished people stay in hospital longer, succumb to infection more
often and visit their GP more frequently.

They also require longer-term care and more intensive nursing care.

However, the symptoms may not be immediately obvious.

Professor Marinos Elia, Bapen chair, said: "This finding establishes -
if there was any doubt - that malnutrition is a major public health
issue in the community that must be addressed both at source and when
individuals are admitted into care.

"All hospitals and care homes should implement nutrition screening on
admission to ensure that all those at risk - no matter their age or
physical appearance - are identified and an appropriate and individual
nutritional care plan is provided."

In 2004, the Department of Health issued core standards for the NHS
which commit trusts to providing patients with a balanced and
nutritional diet.

Two years later, the National Institute for Clinical Excellence issued
guidelines recommending that all new patients be routinely screened on
admission and offered specialist nutritional support if necessary.

But charities such as Age Concern complain malnutrition remains
prevalent because policy is not necessarily being put into practice.

Nurses, it is often argued, simply do not have the time to ensure
patients are eating properly.

The problem is an expensive one, thought to cost the NHS more than
£7bn every year.

The Bapen survey found that 89% of hospitals and 82% of care homes who
took already have screening policies in place.

Ivan Lewis, Care Services Minister, said the government had launched a
nutrition action plan to improve monitoring and care of patients.

He said: "We know that good nutrition is central to people's good
health and ability to recover from illness.

"It is important that every older person is given a nutritional
screening which is reviewed on a regular basis."