Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the cost and resource savings to NHS England that could be realised through (1) a broader focus on preventative healthcare, and (2) a reduction in malnutrition across the population.

There is good evidence that preventative action can benefit individuals and promote efficient and effective use of National Health Service resources. This is an important factor in Government’s determination to tackle the drivers of preventable poor health, such as smoking and obesity.

Efforts to prevent malnutrition and to treat it early could potentially have major effects in reducing both the clinical and economic burden of malnutrition. We know better diagnosis and detection are key. This is why we continue to train all health staff to spot the early warning signs of malnutrition so effective treatment can be put in place. Everyone from the health and social care professionals to individuals in the wider community have a role to play.