Nutrition

Department of Health and Social Care written question – answered at on 17 May 2018.

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Photo of Sir David Amess Sir David Amess Conservative, Southend West

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has estimated the potential savings to the public purse annually from providing patients with timely nutritional care; and if he will make a statement.

Photo of Sir David Amess Sir David Amess Conservative, Southend West

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps the Government is taking to reduce the number of deaths associated with malnutrition.

Photo of Steve Brine Steve Brine The Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Health and Social Care

No estimate has been made centrally of the potential annual savings to the public purse from providing patients with timely nutritional care.

The Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 cover the fundamental standards below which care must not fall, including meeting the nutritional and hydration needs of users. The regulations, which are considered during Care Quality Commission inspections, specify that people who use services must have their nutritional needs assessed and mean that the risk of malnutrition and dehydration while they receive care and treatment is reduced.

To help tackle malnutrition in acute and community settings, NHS England published guidance on ‘Commissioning excellent nutrition and hydration’ in October 2015. The implementation of this guidance is a matter for the local National Health Service. The guidance is available at:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/commissioning/nut-hyd/

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No2 people think not

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