Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the data published by NHS Digital entitled Malnutrition admissions, broken down by provider, 2008-09 to 2018-19, published on 23 September 2019, what plans he has to tackle trends in the number in hospital admissions for malnutrition; and if he will make a statement.

Malnutrition is a common clinical health problem, affecting all ages and all health and care settings. The Government is committed to better screening for malnutrition and improved food standards in hospitals.

Recent data produced by NHS Digital suggests an increase in the diagnosis of malnutrition on hospital admission. The reasons for this increase are complex. Partly the rise in diagnoses of malnutrition is likely to be due to improved screening and reporting and an ageing population.

Hospitals and care homes must screen people for malnutrition on admission and meet high standards of nutrition care. The Care Quality Commission Fundamental Standards, which are the standards below which care should never fall, set out that an individual must have enough to eat and drink to keep them in good health while they receive care and treatment. This applies to all health and social care settings