Malnutrition death rate in hospitals has doubled

Published on Tuesday 12 May 2009 20:46

FOUR times more people are dying from malnutrition in Scottish hospitals than in their English counterparts, according to new figures published yesterday.

Campaigners for the elderly criticised Scotland's health authorities after it emerged 110 people had died from malnutrition in Scottish hospitals last year – more than double the figure ten years ago.

Nicola Sturgeon, the health secretary, also admitted the true scale of the problem could be even worse as the Scottish Government does not have statistics for those who die in care homes from malnutrition. The most recent figures for England showed 242 people had died in hospitals south of the Border from malnutrition in 2007.

In terms of population, Scotland should have experienced no more than 22 deaths that year. Instead the figure for Scotland in 2007 was 91 – more than four times the equivalent English rate.

The Scottish Government statistics also showed 1,884 people were diagnosed with malnutrition in Scottish hospitals in 2008, of whom 110 died – one in 17. This is twice as bad as the situation in 1998 when a similar number – 1,805 – were diagnosed with malnutrition, but only 51 of these patients died from it – one in 35.

Douglas McLellan, policy adviser to the merged charities Age Concern and Help the Aged in Scotland, said: No-one in this country should be dying with malnutrition. A lot more should be done in the NHS and by local authorities to ensure that no-one dies from malnutrition."

Mr McLellan said malnutrition was a well-known problem for the elderly and was often not picked up in the community. He said it was vital, however, that it was picked up and dealt with in hospital because proper nourishment helped patients recover quicker.

Jackson Carlaw, for the Conservatives, who gained the statistics from a parliamentary question, said the figures were of "considerable concern".

He said: "The Scottish Government needs to establish to what extent the nutritional content of NHS meals is playing in this significant upward trend, and to what extent these increasingly frequent cases can be explained by other factors."

And he added:

"Having to attend hospital is concern enough for patients and their families – the last thing they need is additional worries about the nutritional content of meals."

Richard Simpson, for Labour, said: "These figures are deeply concerning. The Scottish Government needs to investigate why this is happening in order that it can properly understand the nature of the problem and take action to deal with it."

Ross Finnie, for the Liberal Democrats, said: "Ministers must investigate this issue as a matter of urgency."

Norman Dunning, chief executive of Enable Scotland, a charity for those with learning difficulties, said: "Hospitals are supposed to be a place of care. It's shocking people are essentially starved to death by the professionals who are supposed to restore their health."

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: "In recognition of the importance of nutrition for vulnerable patients, senior charge nurses play a key role in ensuring these patients – who may need assistance with eating – are given care and help to improve and maintain their nutrition where appropriate."

REFUSED FOOD

JIMMY Mauchland was 56 when he died at Dundee's Ninewells Hospital in 2000. He had learning difficulties, was being treated for severe depression and had been refusing food and medicine.

Malnutrition was found to be one of the causes of Mr Mauchland's death when a fatal accident inquiry was held into his case several months later.

Mr Mauchland's sister Betty Mauchland, from Perth, said:

"These government figures are probably very conservative. The real figure will be much higher.

"If they can't get the dietics service in order, there is very little chance they are getting their figures in order either."

Ms Mauchland said her brother should have been given high-protein milk.