Nutrition and the hospitalized patient: implications for nurses

This article, in response to the recent report by the Association of Community Health Councils (CHCs) England and Wales 'Hungry in Hospital', explores nutrition in the hospitalized patient. Nutrition is instrumental to health and perhaps, more importantly, III health. CHCs have a statutory responsibility to monitor the delivery of health care on behalf of the general public. It is suggested that the issue of nutrition in hospitals is of concern and that there are numerous factors which contribute to this. However, this aspect of patient care is not identified as the specific responsibility of hospital staff. Nurses should play a pivotal role in preventing malnutrition in hospital but, in most cases, they do not. The article concludes with a set of recommendations to improve the nutritional status of patients and stresses the importance of health professionals listening to patients' views.