Malnutrition risk over transfers

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

More than a third (35%) of patients sent from hospitals to care homes are also at risk of being malnourished. Meanwhile, 43% of those moved from care homes to hospitals are at risk.

Malnutrition on admission to hospital varied significantly according to where patients were being transferred from, the study showed.

One in three (31%) of those admitted to a unit from another ward were at risk as were 25% of people transferred from home to hospital.

The study, from the British Association for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (Bapen) involved data from 172 hospitals, 173 care homes and 22 mental health units throughout the UK.

It was based on the screening of more than 11,000 people on admission - 9,722 in hospital, 1,610 in care homes and 336 admitted to mental health units.

Of all the patients screened on admission to hospital, 28% were found to be at risk of malnutrition, regardless of where they came from. Of these, 22% were high risk and 6% were medium risk.

Of 1,610 care home residents screened on admission, 30% were malnourished (20% high risk and 10% medium risk).

The authors said more needed to be done to tackle the problem across all settings. Bapen chair, Professor Marinos Elia, said the report showed that malnutrition "is a significant public health issue".

She added: "It is essential that everyone admitted to hospital and care is screened for malnutrition, so that all at risk are identified and an appropriate nutritional care plan put in place. "Those at risk must be monitored regularly."