Since the Conservative government came to power in 2010, malnutrition, rickets and the old Victorian disease of scurvy has nearly doubled.
In the financial year of 2010 to 2011, 4,657 people were treated in hospital, but in 2020 to 2021 this almost doubled to 10,109, whilst NHS statistics published on 21 October has revealed that scurvy has doubled.
Scurvy which is caused as a result of vitamin C deficiency and poor diets saw hospital treatments more than double from 82 in 2010 to 2011, to 171 in 2020 to 2021.
Since the Tories came to power the amount of people using food banks risen exponentially, as the Trussell Trust provided 40,898 three day food parcels in the year 2009 to 2010, but in the year 2020 to 2021 around 2.5m were given out across the country.
The Trussell Trust 980,000 food parcel went to hungry children which is an increase of 33%, and the need for food banks has increased by 128%.
Shadow Health Secretary Jonathan Ashworth slammed the figures of the high increase in malnutrition and scurvy treatment.
He said this is “a shameful verdict on a decade of Conservative government.
“Poverty makes you ill and illness often traps you in poverty.
“Tackling the causes of ill health and inequalities is central to Labour’s health plan.”
As of 6 October the Conservative government scrapped the £20 Universal Credit for poorer families after the Autumn Budget.
Garry Lemon of the charity blasted the government’s policy over the £20 cut and said this has dealt a “devastating blow” to millions of families.
Millions of families have been forced to face “impossible decisions, struggling to put food on the table or heat their homes.”
He added that the government must invest into a “stronger social security system for everyone who needs it this winter and beyond.”
Leave a Comment