Registered Dietitians are qualified health professionals that assess, diagnose and treat diet and nutrition problems at an individual level.
Uniquely, Dietitians use the most up-to-date public health and scientific research on food, health and disease, which they translate into practical guidance to enable people to make appropriate lifestyle and food choices. Dietitians are registered with the Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC), the official body who regulate health professions and protect the public.
Dietitians promote the well-being of individuals and communities to prevent nutrition related problems. They have a wide range of responsibilities including working with people with special dietary needs, evaluating and improving treatments, informing the general public about nutrition and educating people/carers and other health professionals.
Dietitians also provide a highly skilled service to vulnerable people with complex and unpredictable health care needs. These service- users are unable to meet their nutritional requirements through their usual diet as a result of illness, disease or the impact of treatment.
- Undertaking nutritional and dietary assessments
- Providing appropriate dietary advice and information
- Negotiating an individual’s dietary action plan
- Monitoring the individuals progress as agreed in the plan
- Liaising with the referrer and others involved in the individuals care
- Providing training to other health professionals on nutritional issues.
