Hundreds of malnutrition admissions at hospitals across Black Country and Staffordshire

New figures released by NHS England have shown increases in parts of the West Midlands for malnourished people being admitted to hospital, with more than 10,000 admissions across England for the fourth year in a row, which an organisation for GPs has labelled "unacceptable and extraordinary".

In the Black Country and Staffordshire, the figures, which run from March 2023 to March 2024, show increases at some trusts and decreases at others.

There were around 135 admissions for malnutrition last year at the Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust, a rise from 95 admissions a year earlier, while there were around 55 admissions for malnutrition last year at the The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, a fall from 65 admissions a year earlier. 

At The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, there were around 70 admissions for malnutrition last year, the same as a year earlier, while there were around 10 admissions for malnutrition last year at the Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, after were fewer than eight admissions a year earlier. 

The figures also showed there were around 130 admissions for malnutrition last year at the University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust, a rise from 115 admissions a year earlier, and around 110 admissions for malnutrition last year at the Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust, a fall from 170 admissions a year earlier.

These figures are rounded to the nearest five and cover a range of conditions, including dietary issues and problems with absorbing nutrients or eating normally.

Professor Kamila Hawthorne, chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners, said there is a well-established link between access to fresh and healthy food and better physical health.

She said: "A poor diet increases a patient’s risk of developing a range of nutritional diseases, malnutrition, rickets, scurvy, iron, vitamin and folate deficiencies, all of which are becoming increasingly common. 

"In addition, they can also exacerbate chronic conditions a patient may already have."

Professor Hawthorne said GPs are treating a growing number of health conditions linked to deprivation, suggesting hospital admissions are only "the tip of the iceberg".

She recommended the Government take a preventative approach to support people's health and ease pressure on the NHS.

England has seen more than 10,000 admissions for malnutrition in every year since the start of the pandemic, although last year saw a slight fall to 10,728 admissions.

A decade earlier the country saw 6,616 admissions, while in 2010-11 – the earliest available figures – admissions were less than half of what they were in 2023-24.

Anna Taylor, executive director of the Food Foundation, said healthy food is often the first thing cut for families struggling financially.

"We are calling on the Government to ensure that everyone can afford and access a healthy diet that will keep them well, and in doing so achieve the Government’s ambitions to make our children healthier, relieve pressure on the NHS and grow the economy," she added.

A spokesman for the Department of Health and Social Care said: "It is shocking that so many people are being admitted to hospital for malnutrition, and further proof of the dire inheritance of this Government.

"Our 10-Year Health Plan will tackle stark these health inequalities by shifting care out of the hospital into the community and supporting people to live longer, healthier lives.

"We are working to tackle the underlying causes of poor health across Government departments."

NHS Trusts across the region have been approached for comment.