Age Concern’s response to the guidelines by NICE on nutrition support in adults

22 February 2006

Age Concern’s Director-General, Gordon Lishman, said:

“Malnutrition in hospitals and care homes is widespread yet is clearly not being recognised by many healthcare professionals. All too often we hear that older people’s nutritional needs are being overlooked and their lives are being put at risk.

“NICE’s recommendations to introduce nutritional training for all healthcare professionals and introduce a screening process to identify those at risk of malnutrition in both hospitals and care homes are very welcome.

“Access to food is a basic human right, yet older people tell us they are sometimes treated as second class citizens in hospitals because they are not getting the food they need, or help with eating and drinking. Around 40% of hospital patients are malnourished on admission and this often gets worse during their stay.

“We urge hospitals and care homes to take NICE's recommendations on board and act urgently to identify and meet the needs of those at risk of malnutrition.”