Nutrition and dietetics is the professional study of nutrition and how it applies medically to health and disease. We work with patients with acute and chronic illnesses within our hospitals and out in the community. We use dietary manipulation and food to treat disease and optimise health.
Unlike nutritionists, dietitians must be qualified in their field as a registered HPC and this title is legally protected within the medical profession. Nutritionists or nutritional therapists may offer advice on diet or nutrition however any training or professional practice that they have may be unregulated.
Dietitians have many important roles in health care and our staff work closely with other specialties to provide comprehensive care to patients suffering with illnesses such as, diabetes, obesity, gastrointestinal illnesses, eating disorders and cancer. We also carry out extensive work with the children’s centre to enable healthier eating and cooking skills.
Dietitians provide:
- Nutritional support: using normal food with extra calories and nutrients added or specialist nutrition products to supplement or replace normal food and drinks in malnourished patients. Some may require feeding tubes
- Therapeutic diets: eating more of or the avoidance of certain foods can help to control a patient’s symptoms, improving their quality of life
- Advice on nutritional issues to various committees including the nutrition strategy group
- Education: our staff are committed to educating other health professionals through training.
