Supporting good nutrition and hydration in the NHS – Nutrition and Hydration Week 2026

With nearly half a million people admitted to NHS hospitals in England experiencing malnutrition1, an estimated 56.8 million GP appointments each year attributable to malnutrition[1] and nearly one in four people admitted to care homes[2], ensuring good nutritional care and appropriate hydration support is a fundamental of patient care that often goes unrecognised. 

For over 15 years, Nutrition and Hydration Week has seen the promotion of best practice from teams across the NHS and social care, encouraged training and education opportunities and encouraged the implementation of 10 key characteristics of ‘good nutrition and hydration care’.

Prevention, early detection and effective treatment of malnutrition would not only improve health outcomes for patients across a wide range of conditions (for example, cancer, COPD, dementia, Stroke, and frailty, but could make a significant contribution to reducing the demand for secondary care, as well as reducing the burden and costs in primary care and social care.

BSNA supports Nutrition and Hydration Week 2026 and the activities of health and care teams in promoting the value that good nutrition and hydration care can have for patients and for the future of health and social care as a whole.

[1] Future Health – Hiding in Plain Sight: Tackling malnutrition as part of the prevention agenda, October 2023  https://futurehealth-research.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Hiding-in-plain-sight-Web-FINAL-Nov-2023-2.pdf

[2]  Elia M and Russell CA. Nutrition Screening Surveys in Care Homes in the UK. BAPEN. 2015 https://www.bapen.org.uk/pdfs/nsw/care-homes/care-homes-uk.pdf