AT LEAST two Brits a day are dying of thirst or starvation in our ­hospitals and care homes.

The appalling statistic heaped pressure on Health Secretary ­Jeremy Hunt to come to the aid of the crisis-ravaged NHS.

10 Out of sight ... patients are being “forgotten to death” in a social care scandal that sparked nationwide fury last night Credit: Alamy

Age UK last night described the situation as “horrifying”.

Critics blame the back-breaking workloads piled on NHS staff, many of whom lack the time to help patients eat and drink.

Pressure groups also point to the poor quality of the food served up.

Malnutrition was mentioned on the death certificates of 297 patients who died in hospital during 2015, while dehydration was cited on 429.

For care homes, the figures were 54 and 76 respectively.

Many of the patients will have been unable to hold cups or cutlery, others may have forgotten they need to eat.

In 47 of the dehydration cases and 66 of the malnutrition incidents, that was identified as the main cause of death. Hunger and thirst were a factor in the remaining 743.

10 'Forgotten to death' ... critics blame the back-breaking workloads piled on NHS staff, many of whom lack the time to help patients eat and drink Credit: Getty Images

Across the year, an average of two patients died either malnourished or dehydrated every day.

Ian Mack, whose dad died from dehydration in hospital in 2008, said: “He was absolutely forgotten to death.”

Patient Concern’s Joyce Robins, said last night: “Every one of these deaths is a tragedy.

“Hospital wards are full and staff are run off their feet looking after so many patients it is impossible to give them the care they need.

“Patients will need help eating or drinking but are being neglected.”

The figures, from the Office of National Statistics, come after the British Red Cross warned of a “humanitarian crisis” in the NHS.

And Dr Taj Hassan, president of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, said on Friday: “The emergency care system is on its knees, despite the huge efforts of staff.”

Overwhelmed casualty units are failing to meet key performance targets and are turning ambulances away.

The government has slashed spending on social care, swamped doctors and nurses are dealing with record numbers of patients and care homes are struggling to recruit staff.

10 Grief ... Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has previously spoken of his devastation after hearing how a 100-year-old patient died of dehydration Credit: PA:Press Association

Inspections revealed 312 care homes were failing to adequately feed and hydrate residents between January 2015 and November 2016.

That accounts for one in 50 care homes, looking after 11,500 people.

Data also shows millions of patient meals are thrown away every day.

Caroline Abrahams, from Age UK said: “It’s horrifying to think that older people are dying because they haven’t had enough to eat or drink in care homes and hospitals.

“If malnutrition is left untreated it has serious consequences, as these new figures show.”

10 Needless loss ... across the year, an average of two patients died either malnourished or dehydrated every day Credit: Getty Images

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10 Concerns ... Caroline Abrahams, from Age UK said: “It’s horrifying to think that older people are dying because they haven’t had enough to eat or drink in care homes and hospitals.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has previously spoken of his devastation after hearing how a 100-year-old patient died of dehydration.

Great-grandmother Lydia Spilner died at Leicester Royal Infirmary in February 2012 after her daughter’s pleas for a drip were ignored.

University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust admitted Lydia died of kidney failure caused by dehydration and paid her family an undisclosed sum.

Mr Hunt said at the time: “That story is devastating. There are still too many places where the patient is not foremost in the considerations.”

The NHS Litigation Authority said £311,750 has been paid in compensation to patients and their families in the last five years after they claimed poor care caused malnutrition.

10 No room ... overwhelmed casualty units are failing to meet key performance targets and are turning ambulances away Credit: Getty Images

Caroline Abrahams added: “It is incredibly important that doctors, nurses and care workers spot the warning signs early and make sure older people get help.

“They need training to identify older people who are at risk and the skills to ensure older people get all the food and liquid they require. This may mean sitting with them to help them eat and drink.

“The government has an important role in making sure the funding is in place to support good quality care. Our worry is these figures are another sign that our system for caring for older people is failing.” Liberal Democrat health spokesman Norman Lamb said: “It is frankly a national scandal people are dying due to thirst and hunger. Staff are overworked and patients are at risk.

“Anyone who has been in hospital also knows how poor the food is. We need to fix it.

“People are not expecting the Ritz but it needs to be edible.

“How can we live in a country that cannot give people water who are sick? It’s outrageous.

“Theresa May is in denial about the extent of the crisis facing the NHS.

“The reality is chronic underfunding by her government is running our NHS into the ground.”

10 Under pressure ... The government has slashed spending on social care, swamped doctors and nurses are dealing with record numbers of patients Credit: Getty Images

Shadow Health Secretary Jon Ashworth said: “These are deeply saddening figures that paint a picture of the strain the government has put on the NHS. The funding gap and strain on hospitals and care homes has reached a critical point.

“The Prime Minister needs to wake up to this crisis, bring forward the planned £700million of social care funding and pledge a new funding settlement for the NHS and social care at the Budget.”

The 856 mentions represent a small rise from 833 in 2014 but are down from more than 1,000 a year across the preceding decade.

The controversial Liverpool Care Pathway — in which patient deaths were hastened by the withdrawal of food and water — was phased out from 2013.

Patients were often placed on the pathway without relatives being informed. Hospitals also received a cash incentive for each patient on it.

The guidelines that replaced the LCP say the dying person should be checked for dehydration at least daily and supported to drink, should they wish, or provided with medically assisted hydration.

10 Shameful ... Liberal Democrat health spokesman Norman Lamb said: “It is frankly a national scandal people are dying due to thirst and hunger. Staff are overworked and patients are at risk. Credit: Getty Images

A Department of Health spokesman said: “These sorts of cases are unacceptable — that’s why we have introduced a new care home inspection regime to take tough action, including closure of services where they aren’t up to scratch.”

- THERESA May yesterday slammed the Red Cross for its claim the NHS is in a humanitarian crisis.

The PM admitted there are “huge pressures” on hospitals and GP surgeries at the moment but added: “I don’t accept the description the Red Cross has made of this.” She also rejected calls for another emergency bailout of the health service.

Basic care neglected

10 Stanley Mack, 77, died from dehydration after being admitted to Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham

AN inquest in 2013 heard that Stanley Mack, 77, died from dehydration after being admitted to Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham in July 2008.

The former Rover worker had initially been admitted with a chest infection and was later diagnosed with the superbug C.diff.

His son Ian said: “It was the hospital’s job to get the basics right and very clearly they failed. He was absolutely forgotten to death.”

Stanley’s widow Carol said: “He would be given drinks and occasionally they would be written up as given to him, but we knew he was not drinking it.”





Residents' choke risk

10 Windsor Care Home, in Hebburn, Tyne and Wear, failed to safely manage residents’ hydration and nutrition

A CARE home left residents at risk of choking on food and without adequate access to drinks, an inspection found.

The Care Quality Commission said Windsor Care Home, in Hebburn, Tyne and Wear, failed to safely manage residents’ hydration and nutrition.

Inspectors saw a resident choke after they were given the wrong texture food.

Poorly recorded food and fluid charts were also noted.

The report says: “There were no target amounts set out in care plans so it was not possible to know whether each person had the right daily amount of fluid.”

The home was branded inadequate last week.