The role of Primary Care Dietician is new within this PCN. They are qualified health professionals that assess, diagnose and treat dietary and nutritional problems at an individual and wider public health level.
Diet impacts every aspect of our health, but there is so much unreliable and conflicting information in the news and social media about diet, it can be difficult to know what the best choice for you is.
Primary care dietitians use the most up-to-date public health and scientific research on food, health and disease which they translate into practical guidance. They utilise behaviour modification methods and motivational interviewing techniques as well as innovative digital practice to enable service users to make appropriate lifestyle and food choices to manage their own conditions and so have a significant impact on clinical outcomes e.g. obesity, cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Patients who are able to manage their own conditions at home are likely to experience better quality of life and satisfaction with the GP service.
The primary care dietitian will be able to support a range of people with different medical conditions. They have a role to play in increasing capacity in practice through offering individualised tailored advice to help patients with specific dietary conditions such as; IBS, oncology, diabetes, nutrition support and some paediatric conditions. They are at the front of pathways for patients presenting with gastroenterology conditions and food allergies.
The dietitian will offer first-line advice and refer onto specialist services where appropriate. For all other conditions, the dietitian will refer to the appropriate healthcare professional. Working within Primary Care Networks provides significant opportunities where dietitians could help improve patient care in both adults and children with early advice and interventions.
The primary care dietician works directly for the PCN, so no referral is required and no long wait for your first appointment, just call your dedicated Reception staff and ask for a Dietitian appointment.
Our Primary Care Dietitian
Emma Richardson
Emma started this new and exciting role in with our PCN in April 2023. Prior to this she has always worked in an acute setting, so working in primary care is a new challenge for her. One which she is anticipating enthusiastically.
Emma is highly trained and qualified with a degree in Nutrition and Dietetics in 2008 from Coventry University. She has spent most of her dietetic career at Worcestershire acute NHS trust with a short spell working overseas in Gibraltar.
Emma has a real passion for helping people and is fully committed to helping patients to ensure they have the most up to date evidence-based information with regards to nutrition and care.
This new post offers Emma training to work at Advance Practice level, which is something she is very excited about achieving one day and seeing how much more help and support it allows her to provide those within our PCN.