What is a Dietitian?
Registered Dietitians (RDs) are uniquely qualified to translate scientific information about nutrition and food into practical dietary advice. As well as providing impartial advice about nutrition and health, Dietitians also advise about food related problems and treat disease and ill health. Many dietitians work in the National Health Service (NHS) and may work in one or more specialist areas e.g. diabetes, children's health, cancer, renal, public health. Others work with people in the community, sometimes visiting them in their own homes. They are a key part of the healthcare team and also have an important training and advisory role.
Inpatients -Vale of Leven Hospital
An Inpatient Service is available Monday to Friday and a response to initial/new patient referrals will be made within 2 working days from receipt of referral, or within 1 working day if the patient requires a specialised therapeutic diet which is not available from the standard hospital menu options.
Wards are visited by a dedicated, named Dietitian who works as part of a team.
Referrals can be made by patients, relatives, health professionals and other agencies.
Outpatients
Outpatients referred to the service are offered appointment in the following settings:
Home Enteral Nutrition Service
This service is available to patients who cannot obtain adequate nutrition via the normal route (i.e. from a normal diet). Enteral nutrition is a way of providing nutrition and fluid via a tube, into the digestive tract. The Home Enteral Feeding Dietitian coordinates pre-discharge preparation and monitors the person after discharge.
Home Visits
People referred for nutrition and dietetic advice from Primary Care can be seen in the home environment or at out patient’s clinics as appropriate.
Patient Client Sessions
There are a range of Nutrition and Dietary education sessions provided by the Service.
These include:-
Student Placements
The West Dunbartonshire CHCP Nutrition and Dietetic Service is committed to the training of the future profession and provides a number of practice placements for students undertaking pre-registration courses in dietetics at Scottish Universities. We will always inform you of a student being in the room and you may choose for a student not to be present.
How to Train as a Dietitian
Registered Dietitians are able to translate their scientific knowledge into practical information that is appropriate to both medical conditions and lifestyle. They also work in partnership with local people to tackle food issues that they are concerned about, for example, cooking skills or access to affordable healthy food. Although predominantly employed by health, they may work across agencies and organisations, for example schools, social services, voluntary sector, workplaces or the food industry.
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