Nutrition and Dietetics

The Department of Nutrition and Dietetics provides nutrition support and counselling to inpatients, outpatients and those attending day care in St. Vincent’s University Hospital.

We aim to provide evidence-based nutritional support and nutritional counselling as part of our multidisciplinary approach to patient care, encouraging patients to become involved in managing their care.

We use the most up-to-date public health and scientific research on food, health and disease which we translate into a practical guide to help people make the appropriate lifestyle and food choices for their health and well-being.

Services

Dietitians attend multidisciplinary clinics such as diabetes, cystic fibrosis, heart failure, mental health, renal, liver and pancreatic cancer clinics. General outpatient consultations are by appointment only. During COVID-19 restrictions most appointments are by phone or video calls.

Patients admitted to St. Vincent’s University Hospital are nutritionally screened using Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST). Those scoring two or higher are referred to the Dietitian.

One of the main roles of dietitians in the hospital is to work as part of the healthcare team to provide nutritional care to patients who are malnourished or at risk of malnutrition. Find out more about malnutrition, how to prevent it and who is at risk by reading our frequently asked questions here.

We work in collaboration with the Catering department to ensure the hospital menus meet the nutritional targets outlined in the Food, Nutrition and Hydration Policy – for Adult Patients in Acute Hospitals (2018). Please see this webpage.

Referral information

We accept referrals for patients under the care of a consultant in the hospital only. Where appropriate, patients may be referred or care transferred to community dietetic services for weight management programme and type 2 diabetes management programme (Discover Diabetes) as well as care for risk of malnutrition and home enteral feeding.

Useful links

• Irish Nutrition & Dietetic Institute
• Irish Kidney Association
• Irish Heart Foundation
• The Coeliac Society of Ireland
• Diabetes Federation of Ireland
• Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland
• Irish Cancer Society
• Health Promotion Unit
• VHI
• Safe Food
• Bodywhys
• Irish Society for Colitis and Crohn’s disease 
• Irish Food Allergy Network
• Age action
• Alzheimer’s Society of Ireland
• Living with Chronic disease
• Living Well – A programme for adults with long-term health conditions. Participants can enroll themselves by contacting Triona McNamee, Living Well Coordinator, on 087 405 3880 or email cho6.selfmanagementsupport@hse.ie. For further information visit this website.

Community dietetic services

Education for People with Type 2 Diabetes

Discover diabetes

Discover diabetes is a free HSE community run 5 week programme – 1.5hrs a week.

Topics: Understand your diabetes, identify how food and lifestyle can affect your Diabetes, prevent/ reduced diabetes-rated health problems, manage your weight, and improve your overall health

To register contact: 01-2744360 or 1850 24 1850 or email hselive@hse.ie or complete online booking form https://register.enthuse.com/ps/event/DiabetesSupportCourse

Diabetes SMART

A free 55minute online education course developed by diabetes Ireland and Trinity College, for people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

Topics: Diabetes Explained, Health Complications, Healthy Eating, Exercise and Diabetes Education.

Log in to http://www.diabeteseducation.ie/ and create and account. You can watch at your own pace.

For more information call 01-8428112 or 021-4274229 or email info@diabetes.ie

CODE

CODE is Diabetes Ireland’s group education program for people with Type 2 Diabetes or with a diagnosis of prediabetes. The program can now be done online and is free of charge.

Topics: Diabetes Explained, Signs & Symptoms, Carbohydrate & Portion Advice, Personal Goal Setting, Managing Your Glucose Levels, Risk Factors, Healthy Eating, Physical Activity

To register your interest, fill out the online application here.

Your fluid needs with kidney disease – educational video