Plaid Cymru Social Services Spokesperson Lindsay Whittle fears that older people choosing between heating and eating may be behind the number of patient admissions to Welsh hospitals suffering from malnutrition.
In Betsi Cadwaladr the number of admissions of over 65s where malnutrition is a primary diagnosis has quadrupled between 2009-10, when there were 14 admissions in the first 9 months of the last financial year when there were 56 cases. In some other Welsh health board rises have also been reported.
Lindsay Whittle, the S0uth Wales East AM, said: “Many people will be shocked and worried that in 2014 older people are still being admitted to hospital with malnutrition.
“There has been a rise since the economic recession started and it seems that some people are choosing between heating and eating. Both the cost of both heating and food has risen substantially, making life really difficult for those on fixed incomes like pensioners.
“Many older people may be affected by the social care they receive with some carers not having enough time to spend helping elderly residents by cooking, for instance.
“Thanks to a Plaid Cymru amendment to the Social Services Bill, local authorities will have to ensure that care workers are given enough time to complete the task they have to carry out.”
