My honourable friend the Minister of State, Department of Health (Phil Hope) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.

I am publishing the independent Nutrition Action Plan Delivery Board’s (NAPDB) end-of-year report on progress by health and social care organisations in implementing the Nutrition Action Plan to improve the nutritional care of older people in hospital and those living in care homes. I have placed copies of the report and our response to the NAPDB’s findings in the Library and copies are available to honourable Members from the Vote Office. I am grateful to the chair and members of the NAPDB for their work in overseeing the first year implementation of the Nutrition Action Plan.

In completing their task, I congratulate the board on its work to raise awareness of the links between nutrition and good health, and the risks to vulnerable groups within the populations, such as older people living alone. The NAPDB report adds to the evidence base to help us address the complex factors that determine malnutrition—for example, loss of appetite associated with age and/or illness, including absorption problems or the need for assistance in eating and drinking. Many of the report’s conclusions and recommendations align with our policy on nutrition and programmes under way to improve health and social care services.