Recurring concern

Inadequate management of patients' nutrition and hydration needs

First to latest report 2 Jul 2014 — 24 Feb 2026

Reports that mention this concern
39
Times this concern has been raised
44
Stated actions linked to this concern
80

What this concern includes

Includes failures of controls specifically dedicated to assessing, monitoring, recording, providing or reviewing patients' food and fluid intake and nutritional or hydration needs, including risk assessments, nutrition or fluid charts, prompting, prescribed nutritional support and escalation of inadequate intake.

What is not included
  • Excludes medication, electrolyte or disease-specific treatment concerns unless the asserted deficiency directly concerns nutrition or hydration needs.
  • Excludes generic clinical record-keeping, staffing or care-planning deficiencies unless they directly impair the nutrition and hydration process.
  • Excludes food-service or dietary provision failures where no patient-specific nutrition or hydration safety need is identified.
  • Excludes malnutrition-only concerns that do not materially involve the broader nutrition and hydration management process.
  • Excludes isolated fluid-balance recording failures where the concern is limited to fluid records and does not support the wider nutrition and hydration condition.

Reports and published responses 39 reports

See individual reports that have raised this concern, and the actions taken in response

  1. West Yorkshire Eastern

    AI-generated summary

    Theresa Maria BUTTON · Prevention of Future Deaths report

    This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

    Report summary

    Theresa Maria BUTTON underwent a liver transplant, remained in hospital for approximately 15 weeks, suffered multiple complications including a stroke, developed pneumonia, and died on 7 December 2017. Concerns included staffing levels and whether limited nursing capacity affected implementation of treatment plans, nutritional care, communication with family members, and contemporaneous record-keeping.

    Read the report on judiciary.uk

    Source evidence

    How this individual concern was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Failure to maintain contemporaneous nursing records of food and fluid intake

    Wider context from the report

    “5. Contemporaneous nursing records were not always maintained; for example relating to food and fluid intake (even though nutrition was a matter of concern to the treating clinicians). ”

    Source location

    Theresa Maria BUTTON · Prevention of Future Deaths report
    Page 1 · concerns

    Open source report

    Source evidence

    How this respondent action was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Address inconsistent nutrition and hydration record-keeping with the ward team and discuss it subsequently.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “Prior to, and during the course of the inquest ████████ apologised that record keeping in relation to nutrition and hydration was not to a consistently high standard. This was addressed with the ward team at the time and has been discussed subsequently.”

    Source location

    2018-0333-Response-by-The-Leeds-Teaching-Hospitals-NHS-Trust
    Page 4 · response
    Published 1 March 2019

    Open published response

    Source evidence

    How this respondent action was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Complete Healthcheck auditing of ward J83 nutrition and hydration documentation and care standards.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “The Trust has in place an audit process referred to as the ward/department Healthcheck. This provides a systematic overview of performance across a range of key areas that influence or reflect the standards of care, patient outcomes and experience of care delivered in the Trust. The data can be viewed at organisational, CSU and ward level, providing both a local and strategic picture. A copy of the completed Healthcheck for ward J83 over a 12 months period in relation to nutrition and hydration has been included with this letter. You will note that the ward results demonstrate a very high level of compliance across the key areas identified.”

    Source location

    2018-0333-Response-by-The-Leeds-Teaching-Hospitals-NHS-Trust
    Page 5 · response
    Published 1 March 2019

    Open published response

  2. Manchester South

    AI-generated summary

    Barbara Haley · Prevention of Future Deaths report

    This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

    Report summary

    Barbara Haley inhaled vomit, saliva, food or liquid while resident at Hilltop Court Care Home, developed a chest infection, and died at Stepping Hill Hospital on 13 October 2017 after suffering a cardiac arrest en route. Concerns included her being provided food unsuitable for her soft diet and being left alone to eat despite having been assessed as at high risk of choking.

    Read the report on judiciary.uk

    Source evidence

    How this individual concern was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Provision of food unsuitable for a soft diet

    Wider context from the report

    “1. Mrs Haley was on a soft diet (described as a “fork-mashable diet” in evidence). Despite this, there was evidence that Mrs Haley had been provided with food items not suitable for her by staff. In particular, on one occasion toast was found in her room. On another occasion, staff had apparently suggested to a family member that chocolate could be given to Mrs Haley. ”

    Source location

    Barbara Haley · Prevention of Future Deaths report
    Page 1 · concerns

    Open source report

  3. Surrey

    AI-generated summary

    June Evelyn Evans · Prevention of Future Deaths report

    This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

    Report summary

    June Evelyn Evans was admitted to St Peter’s Hospital with diarrhoea and was assessed as being at high risk of pressure sores. She developed a severe hospital-acquired pressure sore that became infected, and she died of sepsis on 1 July 2016. The principal concerns were failures to prevent and promptly refer and treat the pressure sore, inadequate nutrition, clinicians’ delayed awareness of the sore, and understaffing across the wards.

    Read the report on judiciary.uk

    Source evidence

    How this individual concern was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Failure to implement prescribed nutritional advice

    Wider context from the report

    “3. Dietician’s advice in respect of the quantity of nutrition required by Mrs Evans was not implemented by the nursing staff. Naso- gastric feeding was advised by both the treating doctor and the dietician on the 14th June 2016. This advice was not followed and there was no evidence of why this did not occur. Mrs Evans was not provided with adequate nutrition. ”

    Source location

    June Evelyn Evans · Prevention of Future Deaths report
    Page 2 · concerns

    Open source report

  4. Brighton and Hove

    AI-generated summary

    Jack MOLYNEUX · Prevention of Future Deaths report

    This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

    Report summary

    Jack MOLYNEUX was awaiting discharge to a nursing home after admission to a ward for elderly male patients, where he had dementia but no acute physical illness. The report describes concerns about inadequate care, including failures relating to mobility, hydration, nutrition, mouth care, personal hygiene, psychological wellbeing, stimulation and medication, and states that these omissions and failings contributed to his death. His death was unexpected after transfer to the nursing home, where his condition and engagement reportedly improved.

    Read the report on judiciary.uk

    Source evidence

    How this individual concern was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Failure to monitor nutritional status and refer for dietary support

    Wider context from the report

    “Mr Jack MOLYNEUX was awaiting discharge to an appropriate Nursing Home. He was on a 19 bedded ward for elderly male patients and during that time he was not suffering from any acute physical illness, but he did however have moderately advanced mixed alzheimer’s and vascular dementia and he needed to be mobilised, he needed to be appropriately hydrated and have his nutrition maintained. He needed mouth care, he had dentures but the top plate was lost. He needed personal hygiene, he needed to have his psychological wellbeing maintained and he needed stimulation and he also needed to have his medications given to him appropriately. It was clear that he did not have mental capacity, it was clear that he could not consider the consequences of his decisions not to accept care or hydration and nutrition or his medications and yet no consideration was given of placing him on a Deprivation of Liberty Safeguarding Order. He needed, but he didn’t receive full care in respect of all the matters mentioned above. Mobility He was never helped to mobilise or to maintain the good mobility which he had when he came into hospital. He was never offered to have his out door clothes and perhaps to be assisted to go down to the hospital shop to buy a newspaper which was something he used to do every day before he came into hospital. He lost 20% of his bodyweight in the one calendar month when he was in hospital and absolutely no note was taken of this and he wasn’t referred to the dieticians until he had been in hospital for almost that full calendar month. His mouth was in such an appalling state when he moved to his nursing home that the nursing home immediately raised a safeguarding alert on the grounds of neglect. His dentures were lost and his mouth was in such a poor state that the staff, on Vallance Ward, were unaware that he even had a lower plate in his mouth. His personal hygiene was such that whilst it was noted he was washed there was no evidence whatsoever that he was ever offered a bath or shower in the four weeks of his admission. There was no evidence whatsoever that any form of stimulation was provided. There was a television by his bed but no evidence that anybody ever discussed with him whether he might like to watch anything on it. With regard to his psychological wellbeing this appeared from the evidence before me to have been completely disregarded. Finally with regard to his medications he refused all his medications on an inconsistent basis but he did take his Memantine for pretty well every day of his hospital admission apart from on a couple of occasions just before he was discharged. At the Inquest I found that whilst he had been neglected during his admission, the circumstances did not reach the required standards for a conclusion of neglect contributing his death. I believe this to be one of the most disturbing cases of sub optimal care that I have come across recently and I am not at all satisfied that this Inquest will result in any effective action being taken which is why I am concerned to follow up this matter and to ensure that all those who should know about this situation are informed. Certainly I found that the above omissions and failings contributed to Mr Molyneux’s death. When he arrived at the nursing home he came on the evening of the 25th January and on the 26th the staff at Partridge House achieved an almost miraculous transformation. He was dressed, although he needed the help of two members of staff, he was on his feet and assisted to mobilise to the toilet, he was sitting out in a bucket chair with other residents and was entertained with a film, his mouth was cleaned, the GP provided mouth wash and mouth gel which was applied. His halitosis which had been so strong that it could be smelt outside his room at Partridge House was resolved, he was smiling and reasonably responsive and was eating and drinking again and also engaged with his son, waving goodbye to him when he had visited on the 26th or 27th. His death was unexpected. Partridge House staff had hoped that whilst he would not have been able to go home he could at least have a reasonable standard of life and be enabled to be content. Finally, it is of note that an urgent DOLS was put in place on the morning of the 27th January 2016. ”

    Source location

    Jack MOLYNEUX · Prevention of Future Deaths report
    Page 2 · concerns

    Open source report

  5. Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire

    AI-generated summary

    Janine Eugenie Pierrette KAISER · Prevention of Future Deaths report

    This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

    Report summary

    Janine Eugenie Pierrette KAISER died at a nursing home on 21 October 2014 from lobar pneumonia, with suppurative cystitis, a sacral pressure ulcer, aortic stenosis, multiple myeloma and stroke also recorded. The principal concerns included missed turns, inaccurate or falsified records, inadequate pressure-mattress checks, poor recording of food and fluid intake, inadequate staff training and continuity, delayed referral to tissue viability nurses, and insufficient response to weight loss and safeguarding concerns. The inquest concluded that she died from significant natural disease, with a contributing sacral ulcer whose progress had been compromised by gaps in nursing care.

    Read the report on judiciary.uk

    Source evidence

    How this individual concern was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Failure of staff to appreciate the importance of prescribed nutritional supplements

    Wider context from the report

    “7. The deceased had lost a considerable amount of weight but there was no referral to a dietician (although the GP had been consulted regarding her weight loss and had prescribed supplements) The importance of the supplements was not fully appreciated by all of the staff. The deceased’s weight was maintained during a hospital stay but deteriorated on her return to New Park Nursing Home ”

    Source location

    Janine Eugenie Pierrette KAISER · Prevention of Future Deaths report
    Page 2 · concerns

    Open source report

    Source evidence

    How this respondent position was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Issues arising after the hospital return were not notified to the City Council, so they were not investigated by it.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “5. Twice daily pressure mattress checks were fully completed indicating an appropriately functioning mattress. However when a mattress check was made by Tissue Viability Nurses the mattress was not alternating and the fault alarm on the mattress had been turned off. The attention of the staff was drawn to this but it was not subsequently recorded in the deceased’s records. The staff were inadequately trained in pressure mattress management. They apparently checked that the mattress had a power source but did not check that the mattress was functioning correctly.”

    Source location

    2015-0272-Response-by-Stoke-on-Trent-Council_Redacted
    Page 4 · response
    Published 14 July 2015

    Open published response

  6. Brighton and Hove

    AI-generated summary

    Mrs. Evelyn KENNEDY · Prevention of Future Deaths report

    This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

    Report summary

    Mrs. Evelyn KENNEDY was an 89-year-old woman who died in hospital on 29 October 2014 after admission following recurrent falls. The inquest concluded that she died of hospital-acquired pneumonia and that her death was probably accelerated by a short time because of the effects of her five-day admission to the Acute Medical Unit. Concerns included incomplete handover and poor personal care, missing identification and risk bands, inadequate monitoring and documentation, missed medication and nutritional support, and failures to escalate clinical deterioration.

    Read the report on judiciary.uk

    Source evidence

    How this individual concern was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Failure to record food intake

    Wider context from the report

    “(1) Once again my concerns involve the Acute Medical Unit (AMU). (2) Mrs. KENNEDY was transferred from AMU in a chair, not a trolley. (3) Handover was incomplete and unhelpful. (4) She arrived unkempt. (5) She had porridge leaking from her mouth; it took 20 mouth sponges to give her adequate mouth care. (6) She felt cold and said she was cold. (7) She had been incontinent of faeces and had not been cleaned for some time. (8) She had no name wrist band. (9) In spite of known allergies she had no allergy wrist band. (10) In spite of falling regularly she had no falls risk wrist band. (11) She still had an IV cannula in place; this should have been removed after 72 hours. (12) Her daily catheter care bundle had not been completed for 3 days. (13) She had no fluid charts for 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th or 20th. (14) Care plans were not completed for 17th, 18th, 19th or 20th. (15) Repositioning charts were incomplete or poor for 16th, 17th, 18th and 19th. (16) The handling assessment was not completed for 16th, 18th, 19th or 20th. (17) No food chart was completed for her entire time in AMU. (18) She had pressure damage to her hips and bottom. (19) No daily oral assessment was completed for her entire time on AMU. (20) She was not weighed. (21) The malnutrition tool was not completed. (22) Her bowel movements were not recorded. (24) NEWS scores of 4 to 9 had not been escalated to doctors nor filled in on her drug chart. PLUS (25) No personal care over the weekend of 18th and 19th. (26) No senior review over that weekend. (27) Not written up for her Sertraline, therefore not given (28) Not written up for any food supplements until 21st October. (29) She should have been specialled, but wasn’t. Once again AMU has been found to be chaotic and not fit for purpose. ”

    Source location

    Mrs. Evelyn KENNEDY · Prevention of Future Deaths report
    Page 2 · concerns

    Open source report

    Source evidence

    How this respondent action was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Monitor documentation more closely and provide nurses with real-time feedback.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “Changes, introduced mainly before the inquest into Mrs Kennedy’s sad death as part of the ongoing programme of improvements, include:”

    Source location

    2015-0178-Response-by-Brighton-and-Sussex-University-Hospitals-NHS-Trust
    Page 2 · response
    Published 7 May 2015

    Open published response

    Source evidence

    How this respondent action was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Review and condense Acute Medical Unit documentation into multidisciplinary paperwork that directs care and reduces duplication.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “Extensive and complex work is also being undertaken to”

    Source location

    2015-0178-Response-by-Brighton-and-Sussex-University-Hospitals-NHS-Trust
    Page 3 · response
    Published 7 May 2015

    Open published response

  7. West Yorkshire (East)

    AI-generated summary

    Mrs Gladys Smith · Prevention of Future Deaths report

    This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

    Report summary

    Mrs Gladys Smith died while resident at a care home; the supplied text does not provide further circumstances of her death. The concerns included failures in repositioning, bruise and wound monitoring, falls assessment, weight and nutrition monitoring, dementia care, and delays or gaps in district nursing wound documentation and referral. The report also identified a lack of comprehensive national guidance on wounds and ulcers caused by impact injuries.

    Read the report on judiciary.uk

    Source evidence

    How this individual concern was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Failure to implement nutrition charts for residents with significant weight loss

    Wider context from the report

    “(f) Despite the aforesaid weight loss experienced by Mrs Smith, at no time was a nutrition chart implemented in order to monitor Mrs Smith's nutritional intake. Moreover, medical advice in relation to Mrs Smith's weight loss was only sought a number of weeks after the commencement of the said weight loss. In the circumstances, Care Home staff should ensure nutrition charts are completed in respect of any resident whose weight falls significantly and should ensure appropriate medical advice is sought at the first available opportunity following such a fall in weight; ”

    Source location

    Mrs Gladys Smith · Prevention of Future Deaths report
    Page 1 · concerns

    Open source report

  8. Manchester South

    AI-generated summary

    Agnes Mary Hannan · Prevention of Future Deaths report

    This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

    Report summary

    Agnes Mary Hannan, who had autoimmune hepatitis with cirrhosis, attended Tameside General Hospital several times with severe abdominal pain before being admitted. She was diagnosed with Superior Mesenteric Vein Thrombosis causing bowel infarction and died on 21 September 2013. The report identified concerns about delayed diagnosis, inadequate monitoring and hydration, poor communication and handover, incomplete records, lack of multidisciplinary involvement, and insufficient communication with her family about her condition and end-of-life care.

    Read the report on judiciary.uk

    Source evidence

    How this individual concern was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Failure to monitor intravenous cannula connections and hydration delivery

    Wider context from the report

    “2. On one occasion whilst she was an in-patient, Mrs Hannan who was desperately ill and needing intra-venous hydration, was found to be lying in a soaking wet bed because the tube leading to her cannula had become dislodged and disconnected. The nursing staff had failed to notice this problem. The doctors in evidence, acknowledged that her lack of hydration would inevitably have worsened her already thrombosed veins. ”

    Source location

    Agnes Mary Hannan · Prevention of Future Deaths report
    Page 1 · concerns

    Open source report

    Source evidence

    How this respondent action was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Train nursing staff to secure cannulas and check for detachment or fluid loss during bedside attendance.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “Response The Trust’s nursing staff are trained to carefully insert and tape cannulas to the skin to minimise the risk of them becoming loose, disconnected or falling out. Unfortunately, despite taping them down cannulas do, on occasions, become loose, for example, if patients inadvertently dislodge them. If a cannula becomes dislodged patients may alert nursing staff so that it can be re-secured to prevent the loss of fluid. We appreciate that on occasions patients are not aware or are not well enough to alert nursing staff themselves. If that occurs our staff should become aware that there is a detached cannula and/or loss of fluid on next attending at the patient’s bedside.”

    Source location

    2014-0573-Response-by-Tameside-Hospital-NHS-Trust
    Page 2 · response
    Published 27 October 2014

    Open published response

  9. Manchester South

    AI-generated summary

    ALBERT FLYNN · Prevention of Future Deaths report

    This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

    Report summary

    Albert Flynn, a resident of Appleton Manor Residential Home, was taken to hospital with a suspected deep vein thrombosis and treated with the blood-thinning drug Enoxaparin. The following night he was left in a chair for approximately 10 hours without food, fluids or prescribed medication, while staff were unable to rouse him. He was suffering from a severe cerebral bleed, which was fatal; concerns included inadequate staff training and failure to recognise the significance of his condition and recent blood-thinning treatment.

    Read the report on judiciary.uk

    Source evidence

    How this individual concern was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Failure to provide food and fluid during prolonged care periods

    Wider context from the report

    “1. Whilst the care staff members were apparently concerned as to the condition of Mr Flynn, none of them was sufficiently well trained or qualified to make an informed decision as to how he should be treated. 2. As a result of the above, he was left sitting in a chair, partially dressed, without food, fluid or medication for a period of approximately 10 hours. 3. None of the staff gave any indication of any, or any proper, training in the assessment of this type of event, nor did they attribute any or any sufficient weight to the fact that he had been administered blood thinning drugs the previous day. 4. The staff did not seem to appreciate the importance of administering prescribed medication. ”

    Source location

    ALBERT FLYNN · Prevention of Future Deaths report
    Page 1 · concerns

    Open source report

Actions and positions describe what organisations say in published responses. Implementation is not independently verified.

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Data last updated 7 September 2026