In-patients:
The neurosciences-specialist dietitian accepts referrals for any patient under the care of the stroke, neurology and neurosurgery teams at the Royal Free Hospital site and the Marie Foster Centre in Barnet.
Patients considered to be appropriate for specialist dietetic input include:
- those on texture-modified diets due to dysphagia and who are likely to be unable to meet their nutritional requirements without use of oral nutrition support strategies
- those requiring enteral (such as nasogastric or gastrostomy) tube feeding
- when discharge home on tube feeding (“home enteral feeding”) needs to be co-ordinated
- when high risk of malnutrition has been identified based on nutritional screening
- where concomitant therapeutic dietary advice is indicated, such as gluten-free diet for coeliac disease
- those requiring dietary secondary prevention advice, for example after stroke
In relation to nutrition, the dietitian promotes high quality, effective patient care via audit and research, facilitation of nutrition-related staff training and integration into the multi-disciplinary team.
Out-patients:
Patients who require individualised dietetic assessment and review can be seen in one of the weekly nutrition and dietetic outpatient clinics held at the Royal Free Hospital. NHS Trust staff can access further information and the referral form
Discharge:
Upon discharge all patients that require ongoing dietetic intervention will be referred to their local hospital- or community-based dietetic team. A copy of the dietetic transfer of care report, or for stroke patients the ‘stroke service report for transfer of care’ is sent to the relevant dietetic team. For patients discharged home, a copy of the report is sent to the GP and patient.
Contact:
Catherine Dunn
Clinical specialist dietitian for neurosciences
Telephone number: 020 7599 1719 or ext 31719/bleep 1078
Email: catherinedunn@nhs.net
Further information on nutrition and dietetic services
Further information for NHS Trust staff only