Referrals are only accepted from Te Whatu Ora - Waitematā and other Te Whatu Ora districts health professionals, doctors and dietitians.

Patients should be assessed by their GP and, if appropriate, referred to a Te Whatu Ora paediatrician.

Exception:  Direct referrals from GPs for Dietetic outpatient clinics will be accepted for patients with a diagnosis of Coeliac Disease. 

What is a Dietitian?
Dietitians are registered health professionals who are experts in food and nutrition. Dietitians must be registered to practise under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance (HPCA) Act 2003 and abide by a code of ethics.  They apply scientific knowledge to help improve the health and wellbeing of individuals and groups in states of health and disease to promote optimal health outcomes within the social, economic, and cultural context of the New Zealand population. We encourage you to invite family, whānau / caregivers to your dietitian appointment. Interpreters are also available; please let us know if you need us to arrange one for you.

Te Whatu Ora - Waitematā dietitians are part of a multidisciplinary team and work with adults and children, alongside their family/ whānau /caregivers, who require nutrition input related to medical and surgical treatments and/ or management of chronic conditions.

What will the Dietitian do?
The dietitian will ask for consent to provide dietetic assessment and education to support children referred, their family, whānau and caregivers.

Assessment:

• the dietitian will read your child’s medical notes and check blood results
• assess length, weight and head or waist circumference of your child
• ask questions about your child’s feeding and/or food intake, meal patterns and daily routines to develop a feeding plan or make recommendations around food choices and lifestyle.

Education:

• work with you and your family/whānau to set goals towards feeding support and growth
• explain any recommendations made and why they are needed
• provide information or a feeding plan to take away.

Support:

• provide follow-up appointments as required
• reassess your medical and nutrition status, food choices and changes made
• talk to you and your family/whānau about other groups and health professionals that can provide ongoing support when you no longer need to be seen by the dietitian.
• offer nutrition education and follow up care as required

What Do You Need to Do?

• work alongside the dietitian to achieve the individual feeding or nutrition goals for your child
• asking about things that you don’t understand
• trying the changes that are suggested by the dietitian
• telling us about how the changes are going and if you are managing them
• telling us if you have difficulty understanding the written and/or spoken information.

Consultations will be conducted via Telehealth such as video or telephone call, or in-person depending on the service required.

Paediatric Inpatient Services
Paediatric dietetic inpatient services are provided in Rangatira Ward, SCBU (Special Care Baby Unit) as well as the Wilson Centre Rehabilitation Service. 

Paediatric Outpatient Services
Paediatric Outpatient Clinics (Birth - 16 years)

Paediatric Outpatient Dietitians provide nutrition support to children and young people referred to clinic and who are able to travel with their family member or care provider to clinic. Clinics are booked in advance and are held at venues as close to home as possible, including North Shore Hospital Campus, Waitakere Hospital Campus, New Lynn Clinic and Hibiscus Coast Community Centre.

Community Child Health Services
Community Child Health dietitians work as part of the Child Health team. They provide nutrition support to children and young people within their home or school environment as well as the Wilson Centre respite care wards and/ or regional clinics.

Feeding Resources For Parents And Caregivers:

Feeding Resources for Parents and Caregivers

Nutrition Websites & links for the public:

   5+ a day: www.5aday.co.nz

Provides ideas and recipes to use a wide range of seasonable vegetables and fruit  

Health Navigator: www.healthnavigator.org.nz/healthy-living 

Healthy Food Guide (magazine & website): http://www.healthyfood.com/ 

Heart Foundation: http://www.heartfoundation.org.nz/

• Cheap Eats Cookbook (2019)
• Eating for a Healthy Heart (2019)
• Full o' Beans Cookbook (2018)
• Kids in the Kitchen Cookbook (2016)
• Pasifika Tastes Cookbook (2021)

Ministry of Health Resources: http://www.healthed.govt.nz/

• Healthy Eating, Active Living - Food and activity advice for adults 19-64 years (2020)
• Babies and Toddlers
• Children
• Young Adults
• Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women
• Older Adults
• South Asian People
• Vegetarians  

Healthy Kids: http://www.healthykids.org.nz/

Stroke Foundation of NZ: http://www.stroke.org.nz/

• Salt and Blood Pressure  

Vegetables.co.nz: http://www.vegetables.co.nz/

Active Families referrals: https://harboursport.co.nz/healthy-lifestyle/families/