§ Helen JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what estimate he has made of the number of patients who are malnourished on admission to hospital; [87282]
(2) what steps he is taking to improve standards of nutritional knowledge among medical and nursing staff; [87283]
(3) how many hospital trusts have published written nutritional standards; and if he will make a statement. [87284]
§ Ms Jowell[holding answer 21 June 1999]: Research studies have shown that 40 per cent. of adult patients and 15 per cent. of children are malnourished on admission to hospital. Several important reports about hospital nutrition have been published in the last decade which both educate hospital staff and contribute to development of local nutritional standards. We do not centrally record the various policy documents in many areas of care produced 48W by each National Health Service trust but the Commission for Health Improvement would take hospital nutrition into account in its rolling programme of local service reviews.