Dietetic Services
Dietitians are qualified and regulated health professionals that assess, diagnose and treat dietary and nutritional problems at an individual and wider public-health level.
We deliver dietetic services to both adults and children. In hospital, patients may be referred to the Dietitian by the Doctors, Nursing Staff or other healthcare professional for dietary assessment and advice, depending on their condition and nutritional needs.
In the community, patients may be referred to the service by a healthcare professional, including the GP, Consultant, Community Nursing and other Allied Health Professional. As soon as an appointment is available, the patient will be sent a letter inviting them to contact the service to arrange a convenient appointment time.
Dietitians are also based in or work with multidisciplinary teams including:
- Intensive Care
- Neonatal Ward
- Physical Disability and Sensory Impairment
- Learning Disability
- Home from Hospital
- Community Rehabilitation
- Prescribing Support Team
- Condition Management Programme
The Health Improvement Dietitians and Cook It! Team promote healthy eating advice throughout all stages of the life-cycle and in turn helping to prevent diet-related diseases through their training and education programmes.
Paediatric Dietetics Service
The Paediatric Dietetics Service is delivered by a team of registered dietitians specialising in paediatrics.
The team work across the Trust area including Antrim, Ballymena, Ballymoney, Causeway, Mid Ulster and Whiteabbey areas. One to one consultations are provided with specialist advice in a clinic or home setting if required.
Group sessions may be offered for some patients e.g. for milk free weaning advice.
Dietetic advice is provided to children and their families with a variety of conditions including:
- Coeliac disease
- Complex needs including children requiring home enteral tube feeding
- Diabetes –Type 1 and Type 2
- Feeding problems
- Food allergies
- Obesity
- Slow weight gain
- Selective eating
Paediatric dietitians assess and provide dietetic care when required for children admitted to the Children’s Wards in both Causeway and Antrim Area Hospitals and the Neonatal Unit, Antrim Area Hospital.
If you think your child would benefit from dietetic assessment and treatment please discuss this with your child’s health visitor, school nurse, GP or Consultant Paediatrician who can refer to the Paediatric Nutrition and Dietetic service. Once a referral letter has been received for your child an invitation letter will be sent to make an appointment.
Referral process
In hospital, patients may be referred to the Dietitian by the Doctors, Nursing Staff or other healthcare professional for dietary assessment and advice, depending on their condition and nutritional needs.
In the community, patients may be referred to the service by a healthcare professional, including the GP, Consultant, Community Nursing and other Allied Health Professional. As soon as an appointment is available, the patient will be sent a letter inviting them to contact the service to arrange a convenient appointment time.
