FEWER hospital admissions for malnutrition were recorded by Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust last year, new figures show – despite a national rise.

NHS England statistics show there were around 55 hospital admissions at the trust - which runs Bradford Royal Infirmary and St Luke's Hospital - with a secondary or primary diagnosis of malnutrition in the year to March 2023.

It was down from an estimated 105 hospital admissions recorded the year before. These figures are rounded to the nearest five.

Additionally, a malnutrition diagnosis does not necessarily equate to having a lack of food. The admissions include those for dietary issues, an inability to absorb nutrients or other diseases affecting the patient's ability to feed normally.

Looking at the 127 trusts across England with sufficient data, the number of hospital episodes where a patient was diagnosed with malnutrition – primarily protein deficiencies – reached roughly 10,795 last year.

It was a slight increase from 10,660 in 2021-2022 and the highest number since at least 2009-2010, when some 3,490 hospital admissions were recorded.

The Food Foundation charity said this rising number nationally "rang alarm bells".

The Government said it was helping those on low incomes with food through "extensive" cost of living support.