One in eight patients dies hungry, thirsty in UK hospitals: Study

One in eight dying patients spends the final days of life thirsty, hungry or in pain in UK hospitals and care homes, new research reveals.

Researchers surveyed more than 20,000 grieving families and found that one in eight patients dies hungry, thirsty or in pain, according to the Office for National Statistics.

The findings revealed widespread dissatisfaction among families. Fifth of them expressed dissatisfaction with hospital nurses, saying they were not treating the dying individuals with dignity and respect.

Thirteen percent of the grieving families said their dying relative’s need for food was not met during the last two days of their life. Ten percent said their loved ones failed to receive enough pain killers, even though in some cases they had cancer.