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Dietetics

  • The community nutrition and dietetic service provides nutritional assessment and treatment for adult inpatients in community hospitals, mental health units and enterally fed adults who live in their own home. The team also provide support for enterally fed children and non-tube fed children in the community who are referred by community paediatricians or CAMHS Consultant.

  • Service Manager Lead: Fiona McKellar
  • Address: Central office,  Kings Court 1,  Charles Hastings Way, Worcester, WR5 1JR
  • Reception phone number: 0300 123 8098
  • Service hours: 9:00-17:00

About the service

What to expect from us

How we nourish and hydrate ourselves is a fundamental part of our health, wellbeing and recovery

Dietitians are the only qualified health professionals that assess, diagnose and treat diet and nutrition problems.  They can work across different health care settings using the most up to date clinical evidence to inform their treatment plans.

During the first session a dietitian will collect information about what and how much you eat.  Prior to this you may have been sent a food diary to complete and bring to the appointment.  This will then be analysed  to understand how your dietary intake is affecting your health.  This information will then be used to agree a nutrition treatment plan.

Referrals to the Worcestershire community dietitians can only be accepted from healthcare staff working in county community hospitals, mental health wards, community paediatricians or CAMHS.

Patients are referred for a variety of dietetic interventions including; nutritional support for those at risk of malnutrition, review of enteral feeding regimens, weight management advice and disease specific dietary modifications. Additionally we provide training to staff across the county for nutritional screening and optimising patient’s nutritional care.

Dietary advice

For more information on the variety of nutrients in our diet and how they impact on health as well as dietary advice for medical conditions and allergies please click on the link below for the professional dietetic webpage managed by the British Dietetic Association.

Associaton of British Dietitians website Food Facts

For more information on how to manage malnutrition in the community Worcestershire dietitians have produced the following helpful tips and advice sheets on food first.

Guide to making the most of your food.pdf [pdf] 473KB

Nourishing Drinks and snacks.pdf [pdf] 433KB

Bringing Food into Hospital A4 Poster Sep 2021.pdf[pdf] 189KB

Bringing Food into hospital A5 Disclaimer Sep 2021.pdf[pdf] 182KB

 

Paediatric Service

We give specialist advice about food and diet in Worcestershire. We help children and young people under the age of 18. We do this in the community. We give personal advice to help improve nutrition and wellbeing. Nutrition is about having a healthy and balanced diet. Food and drink have the energy and nutrients you need stay well.

What we do

We support children and young people who:

  • Need tube feeding at home.
  • A children’s Doctor or a CAMHS specialist has referred them. This is for help with food and nutrition.  CAMHS stands for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services.
  • Are very selective with food. This is affecting their growth or causing a lack of important nutrients. We give care that is personal to you and your child. We work in a way that fits around your needs.

How we work

We work closely with:

  • Community Paediatricians
  • CAMHS practitioners
  • Community Children’s Nurses
  • Health Visitors
  • Special School and School Nurses
  • Occupational Therapists
  • Speech & Language Therapists
  • Local hospital Dietitians (to make sure safe transfer of care if a child is admitted)

Together, we make sure families get joined up care and support.

Where we see families

We meet children, young people, and their families in lots of places. Such as:

  • Local health centres
  • Child Development Centres
  • Special schools
  • At home (if needed)

How to refer

Only a professional can refer into our service. Referrals are accepted from:

  • A Worcestershire Community Paediatrician
  • A CAMHS Consultant
  • Professionals supporting someone who is tube fed at home. This is also called Home Enteral Feeding.

If you need a copy of our referral form, please contact: whcnhs.dieteticreferrals@nhs.net

Please note, we cannot accept referrals for:

  • Children not under the care of a Worcestershire Community Paediatrician or CAMHS Consultant
  • Children who are already under specialist services at an acute hospital.

Useful Resources

Here are some internet links to useful information and resources.

Nutrients in food

Allergies

General guidance for children

Medical conditions

Fussy eating and feeding difficulties

Hydration information