Scheme to see hospitals screen patients for malnutrition

One in four patients suffer from malnutrition, and next year, a hospital screening programme is to begin identifying them.

Poor nutrition poses a major risk of infections, post-operative complications and delayed recovery. Most malnourished patients are also up to three times more likely to die within six months.

Tomorrow, the Irish Society for clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (IrSPEN) will host a conference in Dublin that will hear about the importance of detecting malnourished patients.