What we do

Dietitians

• are qualified to translate the science of nutrition in health and disease into practical information about food.
  
  
• work as members of a multidisciplinary team to look after patients who are under the care of a consultant at Addenbrooke’s. They visit patients receiving hospital care (or their carers) to check on their health and ensure their diet meets their requirements. They can also be involved in treating disease by diet, for example people who have diabetes or coeliac disease.
  
  
• work to promote good health by teaching the public and other health professionals about diet and nutrition.
  
  
• act as advisors to the Trust on the nutritional standards and specifications for the patient food service to ensure that the needs of all patients can be met.

 

Our work includes providing:

• Nutritional support: this means feeding patients who are unable to feed themselves. Examples of this type of patient include patients who have had a stroke, or a patient who is very weak following an operation at the hospital. If we ensure a patient is fed properly, it can improve recovery rates, reduce the chance of further difficulties and reduce the time the patient needs to stay in hospital.
  
  
• Therapeutic diets: Patients receive medical or surgical help with their conditions, but some have conditions that can also benefit from special diets. Eating more of certain foods, and/or avoiding certain things can help to control a patient’s symptoms. In some cases, by carefully monitoring what a sick patient eats and drinks, the dietitian can reduce the chance that patient will have problems in the long-term, and can establish and/or help maintain the patient’s quality of life.
  
  
• Advice to the Trust on nutritional issues: members of the department work with Trust staff on the following groups and committees: Nutrition Steering Committee, Essence of Care Project Team, Corporate Nutrition Standards and Better Hospital Food Project Team.
  
  
• Education: the department has a substantial commitment to educating other health professionals through English National Board (ENB) courses and National Vocational Qualifications (NVQ). The Dietitians’ Board of the Health Professions Council (HPC) has approved the department as a base trainer for student dietitians.

 

 

 

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