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.

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.