Hospital slams claims elderly patients are starving

8:10am Tuesday 5th August 2008

HOSPITAL bosses in Bolton have hit back at Tory claims that elderly patients are starving on wards across the UK.

The conservatives have released figures which reveal there were 29,000 incidents of poor nutritional care last year across the country, compared to 15,000 in 2005.

The statistics were reported anonymously to the party by NHS whistleblowers.

Yesterday, Royal Bolton Hospital chiefs insisted measures are in place to ensure this is not the case locally.

Maria Sinfield, head of clinical practice and deputy director of nursing at the hospital, said: “We’ve done a lot of work around nutrition and food and have excellent practice. There are a number of measures in place to ensure people are not malnourished when they arrive in hospital and if they are, they are given extra help.

“We also make sure patients eat a healthy diet while with us and do everything we can to help them.”

Protected meal-times and specially coloured trays, signalling patients need help with eating have been introduced at the hospital.

And visitors and ward rounds are banned while patients are eating to ensure they can have an uninterrupted meal.

All vulnerable patients, such as the elderly are given a nutritional screen when they are admitted to hospital.

If any problems emerge, patients are referred to a dietician.

Cllr Andy Morgan, Conservative councillor and chairman of Bolton Council’s Health Scrutiny Committee, said: “I will be seeking further assurances from the Royal Bolton Hospital that all is being done to ensure all patients, in particular those most vulnerable such as the elderly, are receiving and eating — with some assistance if needed — balanced and nutritional meals that reflect patient’s preferences.”

The Royal Bolton Hospital is one of the few within the NHS to carry out all its catering on-site.