What is a dietitian?

Dietitians are registered health professionals who are experts in food and nutrition. They apply scientific knowledge to help improve overall the health and wellbeing of individuals.

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 fully assess a patient’s nutritional needs and make specific recommendations as part of the patient’s treatment plan. The dietitian will work with the patient to achieve their goals and offer nutrition education and follow up care as required.

Adult Community Services

Working as part of a multidisciplinary team, the community dietitian’s role includes:

• Home enteral nutrition monitoring including transition to oral feeding.
• Monitoring ‘failure to thrive’ in adults who have unintentional weight loss.
• Providing dietary advice and support to patients with terminal/ palliative conditions, where that service cannot be provided by other health professionals.
• Providing advice and support to patients at nutritional risk who are unable to attend an outpatient clinic because of their medical condition.

Consultations will be condcted in-person at the patients home or via Telehealth such as videoconference call or telephone.