More than 1/5th of NHS budget in Norfolk and Waveney spent on treating malnutrition
Future Health Research Centre claim it's adding a huge strain on our local health service
A new report claims almost half a million people (464,000) in England are admitted to NHS hospitals with malnutrition each year - the equivalent of 50 people every hour.
The research from the Future Health Research Centre shows it costs £22.6 billon in total - working out to just under £1 in every £5 of the NHS budget, or £7,775 per person per year.
The number of recorded malnutrition related NHS hospital admissions has nearly trebled since 2009-10 from 3,500 to just over 10,000.
In the coming years disease related malnutrition is projected to cost an extra £4 billion by 2035, if no action is taken.
Currently, only 2% of people admitted to hospital with malnutrition are receiving a diagnosis, with earlier identification of the disease key to reduced stays in NHS wards.
Regional breakdowns:
The impact of malnutrition is not evenly felt across the country.
A number of northern and coastal communities with greater deprivation and older populations have higher rates of malnutrition.
Over 20% of the NHS budget in Norfolk and Waveney is being spent on treating it.
It's also one of eight NHS Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) which have estimated malnutrition rates of over 6%.
Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly ICB and Norfolk and Waveney ICB have the highest estimated rates of 6.7%.
The region with the highest number is the North East and Yorkshire with three systems (West Yorkshire ICB, South Yorkshire ICB and North East and North Cumbria ICB).
The Midlands has two systems (Black Country ICB; Birmingham and Solihull ICB).
The East of England has one system (Norfolk and Waveney ICB).
Of the eight systems, just two are from the South East, South West and London regions.
Black Country ICB is spending the most – over a quarter (26.9%) – of its budget.
Other systems spending over 20% include South Yorkshire ICB, Norfolk and Waveney ICB, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly ICB, Kent and Medway ICB, West Yorkshire ICB, Suffolk and North East Essex ICB, North East London ICB and North East and North Cumbria ICB.