Malnutrition affects one in four people admitted to hospital.
However a new HIQA review has found that nutrition and hydration are not viewed as a priority in some hospitals.
Over 500 patients were consulted for the review in 41 different hospitals.
In some cases patients who were not mobile and could not reach the water cooler were not routinely offered drinks.
There was also a lack of consistency in terms of the meals that were offered.
Susan Keogh has been speaking to Michelin starred chef and owner of Bon Appetit and Cleaver East restaurants Oliver Dunne.
He's been campaigning for two years for better hospital food: