Cases of child malnutrition in England double in last six months

Almost 2,500 children have been admitted to hospital with malnutrition in the first six months of the year – double the number over the same period last year – prompting fresh concern that families are struggling to afford to feed themselves and that the pandemic has intensified the problem.

Freedom of information responses from almost 50 trusts in England, representing 150 hospitals, show that more than 11,500 children have been admitted to hospital with malnutrition since 2015.

Liberal Democrat leadership campaigner Layla Moran MP, who collated the responses, said: “These figures shocked me and make me angry that in Britain, in 2020, people can be hospitalised due to malnutrition. We need to move forward and create a system of social security that helps everyone and makes sure no one goes hungry in our country.

“It is still widely believed malnutrition is a problem restricted to the developing world,” she added. “Sadly, this is not true. Today, in the UK, thousands of friends, relatives, neighbours and colleagues are at risk of the effects of malnutrition.”

Collectively the figures reveal 11,515 cases of hospital admissions of under-16s due to malnourishment. Fewer than two-thirds of all trusts responded, suggesting the real total figure is much higher.

The most cases were reported by Cambridge University hospitals trust, which logged 915 admissions, followed by University hospital Southampton NHS trust with 704. Newcastle upon Tyne hospitals NHS foundation trust and Royal Free London NHS foundation trust both had 656.

The dramatic increase this year is unsurprising. The number of households with children going hungry doubled during lockdown, as millions of people struggle to afford food.

Data from the Food Foundation revealed in May that almost a fifth of households with children had been unable to access enough food in the preceding weeks, with children not getting enough to eat as already vulnerable families battled isolation and loss of income.

nicko wrote:People get Child Allowance to feed and clothe their kids, not to spend on fags, booze and bingo!

Eilzel wrote:

nicko wrote:People get Child Allowance to feed and clothe their kids, not to spend on fags, booze and bingo!

Do you honestly believe most of these cases are where parents are spending on fags and booze instead of food?

I don't deny SOME parents are irresponsible - but I doubt it's most. This is just a failure of the state. You are allowed to recognise our government's failures, you know.

Tommy Monk wrote:


Fresh food is cheap... there is no excuse...

Vintage wrote:There are a lot of families who work and can't keep up with all the outgoings. If you live in a 'council' property and  you have a couple of part time jobs, as a friend of mine does, you pay nearly full rent, then there's electricity and gas, which people pay more for if you have the token system, without clothes and food to contend with. She has a set menu for the week and just about manages, sometimes the fridge is empty. She walks every where she can to save money on bus fares and starts out about 5:30am to get to her first job.
There is something very wrong when you work and can't afford to live in a reasonable manner while there are people, again that I know, quite capable of working getting over £500 a week sitting on their ar**es all day lacking nothing.

Tommy Monk wrote:


A single parent of 2 kids who works part time earning £10,000 (£200 a week) a year and in a council house...


Firstly won't pay any tax on that income...


Secondly will get about another £200-300 a week in child tax credits and working tax credits...


Thirdly... Would only have to pay about £100-140 a week in rent...



So plenty of money to buy food...

Tommy Monk wrote:They have the money... But they just spend it on other things...