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Gordon Lishman‚ Director General of Age Concern‚ said:

“We welcome this survey as it gives an indication of just how many older people are already malnourished when they arrive in hospital in 2007‚ and sets the benchmark for improvement. However‚ older people can remain or become malnourished in hospital if their nutritional needs are not met.

“Assessing older people for malnutrition is one of the seven steps to tackle this problem that we have set out in our Hungry to be Heard campaign. Some hospitals are already implementing these steps‚ but our next challenge is for every hospital to do so effectively so that the scandal of malnourishment in hospital is brought to an end.

“We are proud that this issue is getting more attention since we launched our Hungry to be Heard campaign and we welcome the commitment by ministers‚ hospitals and health professionals to improve the situation.  We need to see this translated into action in every ward in every hospital.”

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS

Age Concern launched its Hungry to Be Heard campaign in August 2006.

Age Concern’s seven steps to end malnutrition in hospitals:

1. Hospital staff must listen to older people‚ their relatives and carers and act on what they say.
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.