Nutrition and Dietetics

What we do

Our dietetic service covers both community and hospital settings in South Tyneside and Sunderland, facilitating a seamless transition of patient care between primary and secondary care. The team includes dietitians, dietetic support workers and clerical staff, all of whom are based at either the South Tyneside or Sunderland site.

The aim of the Nutrition and Dietetic service is to offer effective dietetic treatment for people with nutrition related diseases.

The service aims to:

• Provide high-quality dietetic services to the residents of South Tyneside and Sunderland
• Use evidence based practice to ensure effective therapies and treatments
• Work to the highest professional standards

Dietitians are a registered profession with the health care professions council (hcpc) and are qualified to translate the science of nutrition in health and disease into practical information about food.

We are able to provide advice and support for all nutrition related issues.

Dietitians work as members of multi-disciplinary teams including consultant colleagues, specialist nurses, ward staff, other specialists including speech therapists, physiotherapists, podiatrists and GP’s to support patients’ and their families and carers to ensure optimum care.

We work to promote good health by training other healthcare professionals and the public about all aspects of diet and nutrition.

How we can help

Dietitians can help patients to understand and manage their condition and make changes to diet related to various conditions:

• Allergies
• Constipation and other gastro intestinal problems
• Diabetes
• Dietary exclusions
• High cholesterol
• Kidney problems
• Nutrition support
• People who have cancer
• People who have had a stroke
• Tube feeding
• Weight management
  • Adults
  • Children

They help to:

• Promote a healthy balanced diet
• Promote healthy lifestyle changes
• Support patients through their recovery
• Minimise risk of malnutrition
• Minimise risk of skin damage
• Improve strength to allow improve mobility

We work closely with patients and their family or carers to provide patient centred care, considering medical conditions and blood results when making a plan and calculating requirements for the individual.