Number of malnourished patients leaving hospital increases 13 per cent

The number of people who left hospital malnourished increased by 13% in 2005/6 compared with the previous year, according to the answer of a parliamentary question.

Conservative Party shadow health minister Stephen O’Brien said: “These figures are a national embarrassment. They should shame the Labour government into urgent action. But they won’t.”

DH figures also show that malnourished discharges have increased by 64% since 2000/1.

Between 2004/5 and 2005/6 there was an increase in 22% of untouched hospital meals.