Neel Radia, national chair of NACC, said: “This year National Community Meals Week is more important than ever and I would like to thank everyone who has been involved in getting out the message that community meals is a crucial service that simply must be protected.
“It is, however, under threat as local authorities see its removal as a good way of saving money.
“This is a very short-sighted view. What they fail to realise is that although in the short term money may be saved, in the long term poor nutrition, loneliness and isolation will lead to more hospital admissions.
“This will cost the tax payer more money and it won’t resolve the issue as the vicious cycle will continue once the person is discharged back home.”
Rosie Boycott, food adviser to London mayor Boris Johnson and chair of the London Food Group, told the National Community Meals Week launch at Westminster Hall: “One of the main reasons that elderly people are admitted to hospital is malnutrition and de-hydration.
“Let’s leave aside what that says about the communities we live in and consider the fact from a cost point of view.
“A meal delivered to someone’s home regularly would help prevent that hospital admission - help prevent the NHS forking out around £1,000 a day to care for someone in a hospital. It verges on insanity.”
Chef Rosemary Shrager also joined the launch event, saying: ““There could be up to a third of older people over 85 who rely on the Meals on Wheels service.
“But whether they are paying or subsidised, without the service many could suffer from malnutrition and would maybe never eat a hot meal. About a third of old people rely on good neighbours, friends or family, but for those who don’t have that privilege, Meals on Wheels is a life line.”
Meanwhile, Esther Rantzen, who recently launched the helpline for the elderly called The Silver Line, was unable to attend but lent her support to National Community Meals week stating: “I am delighted to support this event to promote the importance of maintaining the provision of a meal delivery service.
“Through the Silver Line Helpline we will also do our best to support vulnerable older people and link them to these services.”
The launch event consisted of a meal cooked by the London Borough of Tower Hamlets and transported to Westminster Hall where 80 guests were served in a pop-up luncheon club.
NCMW 2013 is running throughout this week, but the NACC plans to use it to get its message across for far longer.
Chair Neel Radia added: “The NACC will maintain the momentum of National Community Meals Week throughout 2014 when a campaign to keep the issue of protecting the community meals service firmly in the spotlight will be unveiled.”