Nutrition and Dietetics

How to get referred

You will be referred to the Dietitian if you require additional input to enhance your nutrition for example, if you have a swallowing difficulty, need to follow a special diet following surgery or if you have a poor appetite.

We work in partnership with hospital consultants and local GPs to ensure patients’ nutritional needs are managed effectively during their stay.

Nutritional Screening

If you are in hospital for more than 24 hours, your nurse will check your weight and height to assess your risk of malnutrition. We use recognised tools — MUST (Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool) for adults and STAMP (Screening Tool for the Assessment of Malnutrition in Paediatrics) for children. This helps us provide the right nutritional support to aid your recovery.

Meals and Catering

• Meals Provided: Three meals a day, plus regular drinks and snacks.

• Food Choices: A selection of hot and cold options is available.

• Special Requirements: If the food provided does not meet your needs, please speak to your nurse so we can arrange suitable alternatives.

Protected Mealtimes

We support protected mealtimes across all wards to allow patients to eat without unnecessary interruptions. Ward rounds and essential clinical care will continue with consideration for your comfort and dignity.

Contact Information

• Catering Department: 01322 428835

• Nutrition & Dietetic Department: 01322 428439

How Are Referrals Made?

If you would like to see a Dietitian, please speak with your GP, consultant, practice nurse or health visitor, who can refer you. Once we receive the referral, we’ll arrange an appointment with you.

What to Bring to Your Appointment

To help us support you effectively, please bring:

• A food and drink diary

• A list of current medications

• Any previous dietary advice

• Blood sugar results, if applicable

• Relevant test results

Appointment Locations

Appointments take place in various clinics. You will be informed of the exact location.
If you're unsure, contact us on 01322 428439.
If you're housebound, we may refer you to the Community Dietetic Team for home support.

Help With Transport

If you have mobility issues, you may be eligible for hospital transport.
Contact the transport team on 0800 096 0211 to discuss your needs.
Your GP or consultant may have already arranged this.

Appointment Duration

• First appointment: Around 30 minutes

• Follow-up appointments: Around 15 minutes

Can I Bring Someone With Me?

Yes — you’re welcome to bring a friend, relative or carer for support.

What to Expect at Your Appointment

During your appointment, the Dietitian will:

• Introduce themselves and explain the session

• Discuss the reason for your referral

• Ask about your eating habits, cooking methods and meal timings

• Possibly measure your height and weight

• Agree dietary changes based on your individual needs

• Provide written advice and information

Your GP or consultant will be informed of any recommendations.

Will Anyone Else Be Present?

Sometimes a student Dietitian may observe or lead your consultation as part of their training.
You will always be asked for your consent first, and you can decline if you prefer privacy.

Will I Need Further Appointments?

If follow-up is needed, the Dietitian will explain the process and arrange it with you.

If You Cannot Attend

Please contact the Dietetic Department as soon as possible:

• Phone: 01322 428439 (adults and children)

• Email: dgn-tr.dvhdietitians@nhs.net

This allows us to reschedule your appointment and offer the original slot to another patient.

If you do not attend and do not inform us, you will be discharged from the clinic and your doctor will be notified. A new referral will be required if you wish to be seen again.

Virgin Care North Kent Adult Community Services including community nursing/IMPACT (24 hour helpline) - 0300247 0400 ​​​​​​

Abbott Nutrition Helpline (24 hour helpline) - 0800 018 3799 

Community Dietitians Team at Archery House, Dartford

Phone: 01322 622132

Email: dgn-tr.DGSCommunityDietitians@nhs.net

Referrals can be made by GPs or by a hospital consultant.

You will be referred to the Dietitian usually by nursing staff or doctors if you require additional input to enhance your nutrition for example, if you have a swallowing difficulty, need to follow a special diet  (i.e. following surgery, if  you have any intolerances or allergies, diabetes or renal disease) or if you have a poor appetite 

Community Services
Our community-based dietitians support patients in their own homes or in local clinics. We offer personalised nutritional advice for chronic disease management and malnutrition, working alongside GPs, district nurses, and other community healthcare teams.

Critical Care
If a patient experiences a life-threatening illness or injury, they may be put in a medically induced coma. Their nutritional needs will change for a variety of reasons. The critical care dietitians will make sure patients get the right amount of nutrition, at the right time and in the right way, to support their recovery. They can also advise patients on eating and drinking well after they leave the intensive care unit.
Useful link: Home - ICUsteps

Diabetes
Our specialist diabetes dietitians support individuals with Type 1, Type 2, and gestational diabetes. We provide evidence-based dietary advice to help manage blood glucose levels, prevent complications, and support weight and cardiovascular health.

Elderly Care
Our dietitians play a key role in elderly care, helping to identify and manage malnutrition, muscle loss, and chronic conditions associated with ageing — including dementia. They provide advice on food fortification, oral nutritional supplements, and strategies to help improve intake. As part of the multidisciplinary team, our aim is to optimise nutrition, support recovery, and manage age-related conditions to improve the health and quality of life of older adults.
Useful links: Eating, drinking and ageing well – a new BDA resource for older people - BDA

Gastroenterology
Gastroenterology dietitians work with the Gastroenterology team on the ward and in outpatient clinic. They can help with conditions that affect the stomach, liver, pancreas, small intestine or bowel. For example: Liver Disease, Pancreatitis, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Inflammatory Bowel Disease or Coeliac Disease. These conditions can stop the body absorbing food properly and cause uncomfortable symptoms. Gastroenterology dietitians can advise on the best foods to manage these conditions, make sure you are having good nutrition and help with recovery.
If you need to see a gastroenterology dietitian in outpatient clinic, your Consultant or GP can make a referral.
Useful links:
Home - Coeliac UK
Medical conditions food facts - BDA
Patient Webinars | Access to reliable nutrition information.

General Medicine
Our dietitians assess and manage the nutritional needs of patients with a wide range of medical conditions. They help to support patients whether they're struggling with a poor appetite, weight loss, or are experiencing difficulties with eating/drinking by providing tailored dietary advice to support recovery throughout their hospital stay and beyond.

Home Enteral Nutrition (HEN)
Our Home Enteral Nutrition Team provides support, guidance and dietetic care for patients with a feeding tube and their carers/families.
Patients may require a feeding tube for various reasons including problems with swallowing, functioning of the gastrointestinal tract or increased nutritional requirements.
We aim to:

• Provide you and/or your carers with enough training so that you can manage your nutrition delivery system
• Provide you and/or your carers with information to help you prevent, recognise and respond to any problems
• Work with you and/or your carers to design a feeding plan that best suits your individual needs

Oncology
Nutrition and Dietetic services are available to all individuals living with and beyond a cancer diagnosis in the Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley area.
Dietitians are key members of the Cancer Services multidisciplinary team, supporting adults with evidence-based nutritional care. They offer personalised advice and education to patients, carers, groups, and healthcare professionals to:
• Manage unintentional weight loss and/or eating and drinking difficulties linked to cancer or its treatment (e.g. chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery)
• Support those needing texture-modified diets or other therapeutic dietary requirements
• Provide artificial nutrition support, such as oral nutritional supplements or tube feeding, where appropriate
• Promote healthy eating and lifestyle advice to help prevent cancer recurrence.

Outpatient Services (Gastro & General)
We offer outpatient dietetic support for a range of gastrointestinal and general medical conditions. This includes dietary management for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), coeliac disease, malnutrition (including unintentional weight loss or poor appetite), and general nutritional support.

Paediatrics
Our paediatric dietitians work with infants, children, and young people with a range of nutritional needs, including faltering growth, allergies, feeding difficulties, and special dietary requirements. We aim to support healthy growth and development through tailored nutrition.

Renal
Our kidney dietitian helps educate and empower people with kidney disease to make food and drink choices that support their health. Any recommendations will be tailored to the individual’s condition, current treatment, blood results, weight, medications, personal circumstances, and usual diet.
The kidney dietitian works closely with the individual, their family, nurses, doctors, and carers, and may adjust advice as the condition changes.
Patients are seen as inpatients on the wards and, in some cases, in group sessions either face-to-face, by telephone, or online.
Useful links:
• www.kidneycareuk.org
• www.kidney.org.uk
• www.bda.uk.com (Search for kidney specialist group)

Stroke
Our specialist Stroke Dietitians play a key role in the care and recovery of patients following a stroke. We work across both the Hyper Acute Stroke Unit (HASU) and Acute Stroke Unit (ASU), as well as providing support in the community.
As part of the stroke multidisciplinary team, we work collaboratively to manage each patient’s nutritional requirements throughout all stages of recovery and rehabilitation. This includes assessing energy, protein, and nutrient needs and developing individualised plans, which may involve artificial feeding, modified diets, or food-first approaches.
Useful links:
www.stroke.org.uk
Updated National Clinical Guideline for Stroke - BDA