Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to update NHS England’s Guidance - Commissioning Excellent Nutrition and Hydration 2015-2018, including consultation that has taken place with stakeholders working in the field of nutrition and malnutrition.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

NHS England has undertaken a comprehensive review and refresh of the Commissioning Excellent Nutrition and Hydration 2015–2018 guidance to ensure that it reflects current evidence base, national food standards, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance, regulatory requirements, evidence based best practice, current research, and system structures.

This work was overseen by a National Nutrition and Hydration Advisory Board representative of key stakeholders and relevant experts.

This work included an in-depth engagement phase with patient groups, patient representatives, National Health Service and social care organisations, professional networks, voluntary and community sector organisations, other key organisations, and researchers to share work on the policy development to date and to seek their views. Feedback received from the engagement phase was analysed, themes and key findings shared with the National Hydration and Nutrition Advisory Board members, and where relevant and appropriate, incorporated into the final version of the policy.

The National Hydration and Nutrition Advisory Board reviewed and endorsed the updated policy at their November 2025 meeting. It will be published in due course.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when his Department expects to publish new national hydration and nutrition guidance, further to the review conducted by NHS England’s Nursing Directorate; and if he will publish the findings of that review.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

NHS England has undertaken a comprehensive review and refresh of the Commissioning Excellent Nutrition and Hydration 2015–2018 guidance to ensure that it reflects current evidence base, national food standards, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance, regulatory requirements, evidence based best practice, current research, and system structures.

This work was overseen by a National Nutrition and Hydration Advisory Board representative of key stakeholders and relevant experts.

This work included an in-depth engagement phase with patient groups, patient representatives, National Health Service and social care organisations, professional networks, voluntary and community sector organisations, other key organisations, and researchers to share work on the policy development to date and to seek their views. Feedback received from the engagement phase was analysed, themes and key findings shared with the National Hydration and Nutrition Advisory Board members, and where relevant and appropriate, incorporated into the final version of the policy.

The National Hydration and Nutrition Advisory Board reviewed and endorsed the updated policy at their November 2025 meeting. It will be published in due course.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that people at risk of disease-related malnutrition are identified early through screening tools in primary and community care.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Disease-related malnutrition is a clinical condition affecting all ages across the community and in all health and care settings. Diagnosis and detection are key, and health staff are trained to spot the early warning signs of malnutrition so effective individual treatment can be put in place.

All National Health Services are recommended to adhere to National Institute for Health and Care Excellence clinical guidelines CG3, titled Nutrition support for adults: oral nutrition support, enteral tube feeding and parenteral nutrition, and Quality Standard QS24 which sets out clear requirements for nutritional screening and support across all care settings.

Under these guidelines, all hospital inpatients are screened for malnutrition risk on admission and regularly thereafter. In primary and community care, people are screened when registering at general practice surgeries and when there is clinical concern, and care home residents are screened on admission and when there is a clinical concern. It is also recommended that screening should be considered at other opportunities, for example health checks and flu injections. Screening is undertaken using validated tools such as the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST). Healthcare professionals receive training in identifying and managing malnutrition, and individualised care plans are developed for those identified as at risk.

The Department recognises the significant impact of disease-related malnutrition on health outcomes and healthcare costs. The Government’s 10-Year Health Plan places a strong emphasis on prevention and early intervention. It supports the expansion of community-based services, including neighbourhood health centres, which will provide nutrition advice, weight management support, and will address the wider determinants of health. These measures aim to shift care closer to home and reduce reliance on hospital-based services.

We have launched the National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme in 43 places across England to improve the care they provide to their communities. Further information on the National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme is available at the following link:

https://neighbourhood-health.co.uk/

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure equitable regional access to malnutrition screening and support for disease-related malnutrition.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Disease-related malnutrition is a clinical condition affecting all ages across the community and in all health and care settings. Diagnosis and detection are key, and health staff are trained to spot the early warning signs of malnutrition so effective individual treatment can be put in place.

All National Health Services are recommended to adhere to National Institute for Health and Care Excellence clinical guidelines CG3, titled Nutrition support for adults: oral nutrition support, enteral tube feeding and parenteral nutrition, and Quality Standard QS24 which sets out clear requirements for nutritional screening and support across all care settings.

Under these guidelines, all hospital inpatients are screened for malnutrition risk on admission and regularly thereafter. In primary and community care, people are screened when registering at general practice surgeries and when there is clinical concern, and care home residents are screened on admission and when there is a clinical concern. It is also recommended that screening should be considered at other opportunities, for example health checks and flu injections. Screening is undertaken using validated tools such as the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST). Healthcare professionals receive training in identifying and managing malnutrition, and individualised care plans are developed for those identified as at risk.

The Department recognises the significant impact of disease-related malnutrition on health outcomes and healthcare costs. The Government’s 10-Year Health Plan places a strong emphasis on prevention and early intervention. It supports the expansion of community-based services, including neighbourhood health centres, which will provide nutrition advice, weight management support, and will address the wider determinants of health. These measures aim to shift care closer to home and reduce reliance on hospital-based services.

We have launched the National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme in 43 places across England to improve the care they provide to their communities. Further information on the National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme is available at the following link:

https://neighbourhood-health.co.uk/

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure people at risk of disease-related malnutrition are supported through the (a) implementation of the 10 Year Health Plan and (b) provision of neighbourhood health services.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Disease-related malnutrition is a clinical condition affecting all ages across the community and in all health and care settings. Diagnosis and detection are key, and health staff are trained to spot the early warning signs of malnutrition so effective individual treatment can be put in place.

All National Health Services are recommended to adhere to National Institute for Health and Care Excellence clinical guidelines CG3, titled Nutrition support for adults: oral nutrition support, enteral tube feeding and parenteral nutrition, and Quality Standard QS24 which sets out clear requirements for nutritional screening and support across all care settings.

Under these guidelines, all hospital inpatients are screened for malnutrition risk on admission and regularly thereafter. In primary and community care, people are screened when registering at general practice surgeries and when there is clinical concern, and care home residents are screened on admission and when there is a clinical concern. It is also recommended that screening should be considered at other opportunities, for example health checks and flu injections. Screening is undertaken using validated tools such as the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST). Healthcare professionals receive training in identifying and managing malnutrition, and individualised care plans are developed for those identified as at risk.

The Department recognises the significant impact of disease-related malnutrition on health outcomes and healthcare costs. The Government’s 10-Year Health Plan places a strong emphasis on prevention and early intervention. It supports the expansion of community-based services, including neighbourhood health centres, which will provide nutrition advice, weight management support, and will address the wider determinants of health. These measures aim to shift care closer to home and reduce reliance on hospital-based services.

We have launched the National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme in 43 places across England to improve the care they provide to their communities. Further information on the National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme is available at the following link:

https://neighbourhood-health.co.uk/

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of a national clinical lead for disease related malnutrition within his Department.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

NHS England has produced nutrition and hydration guidance for commissioners, which is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/nut-hyd-guid.pdf

There are also national organisations which provide guidance, promote best practice, and raise awareness of malnutrition for those working in across the National Health Service and social care.

For these reasons, no assessment has been made specifically of the potential merits of a national clinical lead for disease-related malnutrition.

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