Services Provided by the Department
The Nutrition and Dietetics team is made up of 35 dietitians, 5 dietetic assistants and 1 dietetic secretary.
The Nutrition and Dietetics service based within Ashford and St Peter's provides services to patients, staff and the local population throughout Surrey Heartlands (Northwest Locality).
The service encompasses dietary advice and/or nutritional support across a wide range of specialties to inpatients and outpatients referred from consultants and other healthcare professionals.
The service also provides an educational role both to patient groups and a wide range of healthcare professionals, as well as liaison and advice to the catering team. Inpatient services are offered to all wards at Ashford and St. Peter’s and to Walton and Woking Community hospitals, which receive weekly visits. We also offer management and support to all patients on home enteral feeds.
What do dietitians do?
Dietitians are health professionals that use their scientific knowledge of food and nutrition to improve health and treat medical conditions and disease. They can help and advice individuals to maintain a healthy nutritional status and use evidence-based methods to benefit individuals that need it.
How could a dietitian help you?
Dietitians are the only qualified and regulated health professionals with the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) that assess, diagnose and treat diet and nutritional problems for both individuals and the wider public. BDA 2022
The team’s main objectives are:
- Patient Education
- To treat a variety of clinical conditions ranging from obesity to malnutrition in patients with cancer and stroke, allergies to bowel disorders
- To maintain evidence-based practice wherever possible
- Catering Liaison
- Health Promotion
BDA 2022
