How a Dietitian Can Help You
Dietitians are qualified and regulated health professionals who specialise in food and nutrition. They use scientific evidence to assess, diagnose and treat dietary and nutritional problems. Dietitians can help you to understand how food affects your health and support you to make food choices that are right for you. If there are other health or lifestyle needs beyond their expertise, they will refer you to appropriate support services.
What to Expect at a Dietitian Appointment and What to Bring
During your first appointment, the dietitian will ask about your current health, past health issues, medications, diet, lifestyle, and living situation. This helps them understand your daily life and allows them to work with you to set an achievable dietary plan that fits with your needs and health condition. The first appointment usually takes 45 minutes to 1 hour and subsequent appointments are usually shorter.
You don't need to bring anything specific but having your most recent prescriptions and blood test reports can be helpful. If you want someone with you during the appointment, like a family member or friend, they are welcome to come along.
Who Can Benefit from Dietitian Support?
Dietitians can help both adults and children with various nutritional issues. You may be referred to a dietitian for swallowing difficulties, gut problems, or medical conditions like prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, coeliac disease or if you are at risk of heart disease – for example; because of high blood pressure, overweight, low HDL cholesterol.
If you have been referred to the Dietitian for unplanned weight loss you will find information to help you on www.hse.ie/nutritionsupports.
For children, dietitians can assist with fussy eating, introducing solid foods, treating faltering growth, managing constipation and dealing with food allergies.
Dietitians also offer group education sessions where you can learn about managing your dietary health with others. Currently there are groups available for people with type 2 diabetes. Your GP may refer you to these programmes if they suit your needs, you can also follow the link below if you have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes to register your interest.
- Diabetes Insights and Self-Care Options via Education and Reflection (DISCOVER) course:
https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/type-2-diabetes/courses-and-support/discover-diabetes/
Diabetes Education and Self-Management for Ongoing and Newly Diagnosed people (DESMOND) course:
https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/type-2-diabetes/courses-and-support/desmond/
Dietitians work with the health and wellbeing team to provide education sessions to the public about cooking, weaning babies onto solids and managing fussy eating in children. Information on how to register for these sessions can be found below:
- Baby Food Made Easy – an online workshop delivered by Community Dietitians:
Baby Food Made Easy Poster (PDF, size 6.1 MB, 1 page)
- Take the Fuss out of Fussy Eating – an online webinar hosted by HSE Dietitians:
Take the Fuss out of Fussy Eating Poster (PDF, size 1.5 MB, 1 page)
- Healthy Food Made Easy – an in-person community cooking programme:
https://www.hse.ie/eng/about/who/healthwellbeing/our-priority-programmes/heal/community-cooking-programmes.html
How to Be Referred to a Dietitian
If you think you could benefit from dietitian support or want to join a group education programme, talk to your GP, Public Health Nurse, or other allied health professional. They can complete the necessary referral to the Community Nutrition and Dietetic Service.
What to Do If You Cannot Make Your Appointment
If you can't attend your appointment due to illness or any other reason, please call the provided phone number on your appointment letter at least 24 hours before your scheduled time. This allows you to arrange an appointment for another date. Missing your appointment without prior notice may result in discharge from the service and you would need a new referral to avail of an appointment with the Dietitian.
Clinic Locations
- Balbriggan Primary Care Centre, Dublin Street, Balbriggan, Co Dublin, K32 HC94
Tel: 01 921 3200 / 01 921 3257
Email: balbriggan.pcc@hse.ie
- Skerries Health Centre, 58 Thomas Hand St, Skerries, Co. Dublin, K34 WK35
Tel: 01 921 3250
Email: balbriggan.pcc@hse.ie
- Rush Health Centre, 41 Lower Main Street, Rush, Co Dublin, K56 CC90
Tel: 01 921 3250
Email: balbriggan.pcc@hse.ie
- Swords Health Centre, Bridge Street, Swords, Co Dublin, K67 X765
Tel: 01 921 2100
Email: swords.pcc@hse.ie
- Portmarnock Primary Care Centre, Kingsford Cross (also known as Comersford Cross), Junction of Strand Road & Carrickhill Road Lower, Portmarnock, County Dublin, D13 YV05
Tel: 01 921 3601
Email: portmarnockpcc@hse.ie
- Coolock Primary Care Centre, Cromcastle Road, Coolock, Dublin 5, D05 VO26
Tel: 01 921 4200
Email: coolock.primarycare@hse.ie
- Tonlegee Primary Care Centre, Tonlegee Road, Dublin 5, D05 K1H9
Tel: 01 921 2300
Email: Tonlegee.PCC@hse.ie
