Data obtained by Freedom of Information (FOI) request from several NHS trusts across the South East shows hospital admissions related to these two conditions in some cases doubled and nearly tripled in recent years.
'People tell me they haven't eaten in days'
2025-11-19 14:00:05
Some people are arriving at food banks in baggy clothes due to weight loss, claims one volunteer at a foodbank
Danny Clark volunteers at a food bank in Hastings
Data obtained by FOI request from East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust shows the number of people being admitted to hospital with either malnutrition or nutritional deficiencies increased from 2,051 in the year 2020/21 to 3,879 in 2024/25.
That's an increase of just under 90% in four years.
Cases of malnutrition or nutritional deficiencies more than doubled from 16 to around 40 at Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust over the same period.
Cases of malnutrition or nutrient deficiencies at the Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust almost tripled from 132 in the financial year 2020/21 to 370 in 2024/25.
Malnutrition or nutrient deficiency cases at both the East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust and Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust in Surrey fell between 2020/21 and 24/25.
Other trusts from across the South East could not provide data as they do not hold such information, often due to the nature of the care they provide.