State of the Nation

England's National Health Service (NHS) has soaring numbers of hospital admissions of folk with vitamin/mineral deficiencies. In 2023-24, NHS figures for patient admissions, where iron deficiency was the primary cause, were almost 192,000. This was an 11% increase on the previous year and almost 10-times the figure for 1998-99. There were also more than 2,500 2023-24 admissions of folk with non-folate Vitamin B deficiencies, a 15% increase on the previous year. The new figure was more then 3-times that seen in 1998-99. Patients admitted to hospital in 2023-24 and 2022-23 with folate (Vitamin B12)-related anaemia, were 4-times the number seen in 1998-99. Increases in hospital admissions of folk with Vitamin C and calcium deficiencies, told similar stories. The primary causes were poor diets (https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/jan/01/hospital-admissions-lack-of-vitamins-iron-nhs-figures).These NHS figures, however, shouldn't be taken at face value. One complication, is that folk admitted to hospital for other overt reasons, are often also found later to have vitamin/mineral deficiencies. Another complication, is that the Covid19 pandemic (1999-2021) would have reduced hospital admissions for folk with vitamin/mineral deficiencies (perhaps inflating the apparent increase). There's little doubt, however, that dietary vitamin and mineral deficiencies are currently inflating England's stretched hospital admissions. Many folk seem to lack the finance and/or knowledge to adopt a healthy diet. Some people largely live on dietary-poor 'fast foods'. In addition, there are increasing numbers of vegans/vegetarians in the UK. They have to be counselled to ensure they get appropriate amounts of iron. Prevention of dietary deficiency diseases would be much better (and cheaper) than cures. It could also help clear England's hospital treatment backlog.