Patients not checked for Malnutrition

2 out of 3 hospital patients are not being checked for signs of malnutrition, alarming figures have revealed.

The largest survey carried out by the Patients Association into malnutrition in hospitals and the community also found most carers are not keeping track of nutrition problems among the old – or even weighing them.

Health Service guidelines say all patients going into hospital and all outpatients should be questioned about their weight and diet, as well as all those going into care homes.

The scandal of elderly hospital patients dying of neglect was laid bare earlier last year when official figures revealed dehydration contributed to the deaths of 800 people a year, with malnutrition accounting for a further 284.

But a major survey of 5,000 adults in England, Scotland and Wales commissioned by the Patients Association shows little has changed, even though it is supposed to be a key priority for the NHS.

Altogether 69% of hospital inpatients did not recall being screened for malnutrition on admission. This could mean fewer than one in three are being checked.

Worryingly, the survey found even less action being taken by carers – who are ideally placed to check on the weight of those they are caring for.

More than half of 1,800 carers taking part in the survey had concerns about the weight of someone they looked after but only 8% had used formal assessment methods to check for malnutrition. Just 1 in 6 had ever weighed a person they were looking after.

Among 1,500 people with close friends or relatives in a residential care home, 66% were unaware how often their diet and weight was monitored.

The Patients Association report – Patients' Understanding of Nutrition – says it is 'alarming' that so few are being checked when staff should be following the screening guideline issued by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE).

The Patients Association has long been campaigningfor all patients to be weighed and screened for malnutrition on admission.

If screening does not take place, malnutrition remains unidentified and untreated which results in increased complications, longer hospital stays and even death. Hospitals have all the evidence, guidance and training materials they need.

NICE guidance states that the NHS should screen all inpatients, when admitted to hospital and at weekly intervals. Care homes should screen for malnutrition upon admission and whenever there is cause for concern.