Rise in malnutrition admissions 'a worrying trend'

Malnutrition can have many causes, from medical to socio-economic

A public health boss has described a sharp increase in the number of patients admitted to hospital with malnutrition as a "worrying trend".

During the year to March, about 165 people were taken to the Royal Preston and Chorley and South Ribble hospitals because they were under-nourished, a 73% increase on the approximately 95 admitted during the previous 12 months.

Malnutrition can have many causes, including dietary issues, problems with absorbing nutrients, or being unable to eat healthily.

Dr Sakthi Karunanithi, director of public health for Lancashire County Council, said: "Any rise in hospital admissions due to lack of access to healthy food is a worrying trend and will have a detrimental effect on people’s lives."

The NHS England figures for Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust - rounded to the nearest five - buck the national trend.

During 2023-24 there was a slight decrease in malnutrition-related admissions across England, down to 10,728.

Dr Karunanithi said much work was being done across the county to "create and support resilience within our community food organisations".

He said this included maximising the number of people taking part in national initiatives like the healthy start programme and receiving free school meals.

"We will continue to work with partners in addressing health inequalities and enabling people to stay well and to access healthy diets in Lancashire," added Dr Karunanithi.

"This will relieve pressure on hospitals and help people to live healthy lives."

Dr Sakthi Karunanithi said the rise in cases of malnutrition was "worrying"

Anna Taylor, executive director of the Food Foundation, said healthy food was often the first thing cut by financially struggling families.

"We are calling on the government to ensure that everyone can afford and access a healthy diet that will keep them well, and in doing so achieve the government’s ambitions to make our children healthier, relieve pressure on the NHS and grow the economy," she said.

A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care said: "Our 10-Year Health Plan will tackle these stark health inequalities by shifting care out of the hospital into the community and supporting people to live longer, healthier lives."

Further analysis of the NHS England data found the number of malnutrition admissions at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (again rounded to the nearest five) nearly doubled over the same period, from 35 to 65.

Meanwhile the situation was largely steady at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, which operates the Royal Blackburn, with admissions for malnourishment up fractionally from 30 to 35.

But at University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust – which runs the Royal Lancaster Infirmary – admissions fell from 85 to 60.