North patients 'at risk of starvation'

Jul 30 2008 by Adrian Pearson, The Journal

VULNERABLE patients in North East hospitals are at risk of starvation because overworked nurses do not have time to feed them, health campaigners say.

Government figures have revealed a huge increase in the number of patients suffering from what the Conservatives have described as “unnecessary and completely avoidable harm from poor nutritional care”.

And health campaigners say elderly people are now more likely than not to suffer from some form of neglect while in North hospitals.

In the North East 1,353 cases of neglect were reported to health bosses by whistleblowers, a rise of 248% from 389 in 2005 over the three years the figures were collected.

Shockingly, the North East has the fastest-rising rate of incidents of neglect of any region in the country.

The cases relate to incidents “which could have or did lead to harm for one or more patients receiving NHS care”.

It has been claimed that many elderly patients routinely miss hospital meals because they cannot feed themselves.

Shadow health minister Stephen O’Brien said last night: “The big concern in the North East is whether this particularly worrying increase in levels of malnutrition is because of an over-emphasis on following Government targets, rather than allowing nurses the time and space they need to do their job properly.”

The incidents were reported anonymously by NHS whistleblowers worried that patients were suffering as a result of the pressure put on nurses.

John Berry, 73, secretary of the North East Pensioners’ Association said: “It is simply unacceptable that someone in their later years who is disoriented, in an unfamiliar environment, should be neglected like this.

“We have heard stories about this for years, it is not uncommon for families to find their elderly mother or father, who they thought would be safe in hospital, is receiving even worse standards of care and in some cases missing out on many meals over several days.

“I know many nurses are overworked, but far too many simply do not want to take the time to ensure an elderly patient is fed. In too many cases staff do not know or care how to look after the elderly and it is increasingly down to what family the patient may have to look after them.”

Nursing staff say the figures indicate their determination to report and solve problems in their hospitals.

Unison’s regional head of health Liz Twist said nurses were doing their best to cope with rising demands.

She said: “It would be wrong to blame them for trying to do the best they can in the little time they have available.

“I think we have seen real investment in these areas and we will continue to do so, and it is frankly a bit rich for the Conservatives to single this out, given their record on health care.”

Patrick South, head of public affairs for Age Concern, said: “Not only do a significant number of older people arrive in hospital already malnourished, but six out of 10 are at risk of becoming malnourished, or their situation getting worse, while they are there.”

Charlotte Potter, senior policy officer at Help the Aged, said: “A high increase like this might be a result of better reporting of errors, which would be a good thing.

“If we know more about what’s going wrong, we are in a better position to address the problem.

“Nutrition is the bedrock of good care – older people are at particular risk of malnutrition and will struggle to respond to treatment or recover well if they are malnourished.”

Page 2: Reports 'show we are dealing with this problem'