The Daily Mail reported yesterday that at least two elderly patients a week die of hunger or thirst in Britain’s hospitals and care homes, official figures reveal.

More than 100 over 65s died because of dehydration or malnutrition last year, according to data from the Office for National Statistics.

Despite a general decrease in the number of deaths caused by care failures in recent years, the figures are now rising.

Former Liberal Democrat care minister Norman Lamb said the figures were evidence of a ‘social care crisis’, while a charity called for more to be done to protect the elderly.

Mr Lamb said:

‘It is shocking to think that in 21st century Britain, older people are dying of thirst or hunger in our care homes and hospitals. This lays bare the devastating human cost of the social care crisis. Too many older people are slipping through the net and not getting the dedicated care they need.

‘I hope this will act as a wake-up call and that the Government will take urgent steps to tackle the funding crisis facing our care homes and hospitals.’