U.K.: Hospitals Risk Endangering Older Patients’ Health

LONDON (Age Concern - Reuters), August 29, 2006: Nine out of ten nurses do not always have time to help patients who need assistance with eating, despite shocking levels of malnutrition in older patients, new research from Age Concern reveals today. The lack of nursing time and the failure by hospitals to introduce simple safeguards has hit the most vulnerable. Hard-hitting statistics show that six out of ten older patients are at risk of becoming malnourished or their situation getting worse while in hospital. It means older patients, who occupy two thirds of general hospital beds, are at risk of malnutrition while in hospital. The figures are worse for those who are older, as patients over 80 admitted to hospital have a five times higher prevalence of malnutrition than those under the age of 50. The toll of malnutrition on health costs in the UK is estimated to exceed £7.3 billion per year5 – much more than obesity. Malnourished patients stay in hospital for longer, are three times as likely to develop complications during surgery and have a higher mortality rate. Today, in a bid to improve basic care standards and save lives, Age Concern launches its national campaign ‘Hungry to be Heard’. This major campaign aims to end the scandal of older people being malnourished in hospitals. The campaign highlights that although the problem is widely recognised, NHS guidelines are not solving it. Gordon Lishman, Director-General of Age Concern said: “Hospitals are in danger of becoming bad for the health of older people. The majority of older patients are being denied some of the basic care they need leaving hundreds of thousands of older patients malnourished. It is shocking that the dignity of patients is being overlooked, and that Age Concern has to run a campaign to fight for the implementation of such simple measures. “From ward to board everyone needs to address this problem. Food and help with eating it should be recognised by ward staff as an essential part of care, and they should be given time to perform this task.” A new report from Age Concern spells out the steps that hospitals must implement to eradicate avoidable malnutrition and ensure that older patients get the food they need and help with eating. 1) Hospital staff must listen to older people, and their relatives and carers 2) All ward staff must become ‘food aware’ 3) Hospital staff must follow their own professional codes and guidance from other bodies 4) Older people must be assessed for the signs or danger of malnourishment on admission and at regular intervals during their stay 5) Introduce ‘protected mealtimes’ 6) Implement a ‘red tray system’ and ensure that it works in practice 7) Use volunteers where appropriate * ICM Research interviewed a sample of 500 nurses from across Britain between the 3rd and 7th August 2006. Interviews were conducted via telephone with nurses screened to ensure they currently work in relevant hospital wards / departments. ICM is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules. Copyright 2006 Age Concern England.