Age Concern Charity Warns that Old People Going Hungry in Hospital

By Jessica Salter, Daily Telegraph

United Kingdom

August 24, 2008

Age Concern says that for elderly people 'missed meals in hospital can be as big a risk' 

Almost half of NHS trusts still have not introduced a system called "protected meal times" that stops all non-urgent ward activities so nurses can concentrate on feeding patients, according to a survey by Age Concern.

Its research showed that six out of 10 older people are at risk of becoming malnourished, or becoming more ill while in hospital.

The charity said it had heard of cases where patients were taken to the toilet during meal times or routine examinations were carried out, meaning the patients missed out on food.

A third of the 110 NHS trusts in England and Wales that responded to the survey had also failed to introduce a "red tray" system, where meal trays are colour-coded to show a patient needs help with eating, despite the Government specifically requesting the system.

The charity said often food trays were placed at the end of beds, out of patients' reach, and help was not given with cutting up meals.

One case reported to the charity was of a 92-year-old dementia sufferer who could only digest pureed food, who was regularly offered regular meals. Her food was left untouched and taken away, forcing her daughter to come at meal times with food from home such as yoghurt and soup, to make sure she was eating properly.

Patrick South, Head of Public Affairs for Age Concern, said: "For older people, missed meals in hospital can be as big a risk to safety as missing medication.

"Tackling malnutrition should be a top priority for all NHS trusts, yet our evidence shows unacceptable inconsistencies across the country.

"It's shocking that many older people still find themselves trapped within a 'postcode lottery of commitment' to improve nutritional standards on hospital wards."

In 2007, the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) received more than 29,000 reports of incidents relating to patient nutrition, which ranged from badly fitted feeding tubes to deaths where poor nutrition was a factor.

The Department of Health said it launched the Nutrition Action Plan last October to outline how vulnerable adults needed to be cared for in hospital.

A spokeswoman said: "We recognise that protected meal times are an issue and are working on them in conjunction with our partners, including Age Concern, who sit on the Nutrition Action Plan Board."

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