Acute Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics
The Acute Dietetic Team ensures that a seamless service is delivered to our patients - providing both inpatient and outpatient services. We assess patients whilst they are in hospital, hold specialist outpatients clinics - and ongoing support is provided by our colleagues in the community.
The team is committed to evidenced based advice and information on the management of good nutrition in the treatment of diseases. The Acute Dietetic team provides dietetic care in a wide range of specialities which include:
As well as providing individualised dietary advice to oncology patients, the oncology dietitians attend weekly multidisciplinary meetings and clinics. They also provide talks and general advice to patient support groups and participate in Kent-wide study days for other health professionals working in oncology.
Children’s Services
The Team includes 2 paediatric dietitians who provide specialised dietetic care to children both as inpatients and outpatients. They work closely with Paediatricians, children’s nurses, and other therapists in a variety of settings.
Children with a wide range of medical and dietary problems are seen. This can include food allergy, reduced food intake, obesity, children with limited diets, chronic medical conditions requiring long-term nutritional support and children who require tube feeding whilst in hospital.
Gastroenterology
Dietitians see a wide range of patients e.g. Crohns Diseas, Ulcerative Colitis, Diverticular Disease. They work with the patient to ensure that patients are managing to eat the most appropriate diet. They will work with patients to help alleviate symptoms.
Nutrition support /Critical Care
Dietitians are key members of the multidisciplinary teams on the critical care units at the 3 acute hospitals sites. Patients are assessed and nutritional support is provided via a route most suitable for the patient (oral, enteral or parenteral). The patients are monitored and reviewed on regular basis, and the dietetic intervention is altered depending upon their clinical conditions.