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Dietitian

Role Description

Dietitians are healthcare professionals that diagnose and treat diet and nutritional problems, both at an individual patient and wider public health level. Specialist areas of practice for dietitians in primary care may include frailty and malnutrition, diabetes, overweight and obesity, gastroenterology, and paediatrics (including faltering growth, food allergies and intolerances).

Dietitians translate public health and scientific research on food, health, and disease into practical guidance to enable people to make appropriate lifestyle and food choices

What can a Dietitian offer to patients in a Primary Care setting?

Dietitians are trained in behaviour change approaches such as motivational interviewing, making them well placed to support prevention and tackle health inequalities. Working within Primary Care Networks (PCNs), Dietitians can train to become First Contact Practitioners (FCP) supporting and enabling patients to self-manage their conditions. A First Contact Dietitian can provide the following:

  • Enhanced care in care home – manage malnutrition and undertake swallow assessments.
  • Diabetes and weight management – specialist interventions including lifestyle and pharmacology. Supporting relevant QOF points.
  • Gastroenterology – manage a range of conditions including functional constipation, functional diarrhoea, bile acid diarrhoea, IBS and coeliac disease. By supporting patients to improve symptom control, dietitians can reduce the need for future primary care appointments.
  • Paediatrics – manage a range of conditions within the paediatric population which may include gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, cow’s milk protein allergy, food allergies or intolerance, behavioural feeding difficulties, selective eaters, and micronutrient deficiencies.
  • Training and education – upskilling the primary care workforce in the management of nutrition and dietetic related conditions throughout the lifecycle.

Dietitians with supplementary prescribing rights can prescribe/deprescribe medications relating to nutrition and dietetic conditions.

Registrable Qualification

One of the following (HCPC approved):

  • Undergraduate BSc (Hons) in dietetics
  • Postgraduate Diploma (PgDip) in dietetics
  • Masters (MSc) qualification in dietetics
  • Dietetic degree apprenticeship 

Additional Qualifications Required for Primary Care

  • Health Education England FCP Roadmap for dietitians FCP training must be completed as the minimum threshold for entry to primary care and be supported by appropriate governance and indemnity.
  • Health Education England primary care FCP training can begin 3-5 years postgraduate.
  • Non-medical prescribing (supplementary prescribing rights)
  • Training in swallow assessments
  • Dietitians working with undifferentiated diagnosis in paediatric populations must have relevant masters level training and education in the management of nutrition and dietetic practice in paediatrics.

Regulatory Body

  • Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) registration  

Supervision Requirements

  • Appropriate supervision is required for all dietitians working in Primary Care.
  • Existing GP Educational Supervisors need to attend a short top up course to be able to supervise dietitians undertaking FCP and AP roles.
  • Health Care Professionals who have completed the two-day Roadmap Supervision and Verification Course (RMSV) can provide clinical supervision to dietitians undertaking FCP and AP roles.

What can the Training Hub offer you?

  • Access to online courses and workshops on various topics
  • Tools and resources for improving communication and professional skills.
  • Networking opportunities with peers and other healthcare professionals.
  • Continued education and professional development opportunities.
  • Access to the latest research and information via the library services team.
  • Support in finding a roadmap supervisor.
  • Access to full Advanced Practice pathway.

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