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About our service

The goal of our Nutrition and Dietetics department is to improve the health and wellbeing of patients through nutrition intervention and to provide up to date, evidence-based advice. The department is also actively involved in and committed to, clinical audit and quality improvement.

Dietary advice may be necessary for patients who require

  1. require nutrition support i.e. patients who are malnourished or at risk of malnutrition. 
  2. therapeutic diets for the management of certain conditions e.g. for diabetes, coeliac disease, renal disease, food intolerances.
  3. preventative diets e.g. for heart disease, weight management, impaired glucose tolerance.

The  department is staffed by highly trained and qualified dietitians who are registered members of CORU and are committed to continuous professional development. We have dedicated oncology and surgical dietitians addressing the unique needs of our patients as a centre of excellence for pancreatic cancer and oncology services.

 

We also offer an outpatient service with outpatient referrals taken for a number of conditions such as:

  • Weight management
  • Coronary heart disease
  • Diabetes
  • Coeliac condition
  • Gastrointestinal disorders
  • Irritable bowel syndrome
  • High cholesterol
  • Hypertension
  • Cardiovascular health
  • DAFNE Education programme
  • Dietary assessement and body composition analysis
  • Low FODMAP diet

Clinical Research/ Audit/ Education:

  • Gillian Stewart (oncology dietitian) Co-author on Diet and Nutrition Advice After a Solid Tumor Diagnosis: ascopubs.org/journal/ 2021
  • Participation in the European Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ESPEN) Nutrition Day Audit 2019
  • Head & Neck Cancer Audit: Joint audit between dietetics & Speech & Language Therapists.
  • Enteral Nutrition Audit
  • Parenteral Nutrition Audit
  • Nutrition & Hydration education day for staff and patients: 2021 COVID-19 & Nutrition
  • Implementation of national guidelines for hospital nutrition. Food, Nutrition and Hydration Policy for Adult Patients in Acute Hospital, 2018                                                               
  • Implementation of international dysphagia guidelines (IDDSI) with our Speech & Language Therapy colleagues.

 

Referrals & Consultations

A GP or consultant referral is required for outpatient consultations. 

For enquiries, please contact Una Gilligan, Dietitian Manager: Tel : (01) 260 9304.

 

Useful links

 

Dietetics and Cancer

Knowing the right foods to eat after a cancer diagnosis, can be stressful and overwhelming. With access to so much information online, it is very likely you have been exposed to misleading information and restrictive diets. These are usually promoted from unreliable sources and lack scientific evidence. Here, at St Vincent’s Private Hospital we have a dedicated Oncology and Haematology Dietitian who can support and educate you on the best nutrition for your cancer journey, using evidence based advice. 

 

Our Service

Current research has shown that nutritional status, unintentional weight loss and changes in your eating habits can have a negative effect on your tolerance to treatments. Our dietitian can support you with dietary advice, specific to your needs, which will:

  • optimise your nutritional status
  • minimise toxicities from your cancer treatment
  • enhance your tolerance to those treatments. 

We can also discuss food safety, dispel any myths around diet and cancer (you may have come across) and address any concerns relating to diet and nutrition.

Our dietitian is actively involved in research in the area of oncology. One recent study, she was involved with, investigated the dietary advice and misinformation patients received after their cancer diagnosis. 

At each cancer treatment it is most likely your nurse will check your weight and discuss any side effect you may have from your treatments. These side effect may include nausea, poor appetite, sore mouth, dry mouth or altered bowel habits.  They will contact the dietitian to assess you if it is required.

 

Our Service:

  • A detailed nutritional assessment which includes your medical history, biochemistry, medications of dietetic relevance, physical factors that impact your nutritional intake, anthropometry and calculation of your estimated nutritional requirements and a detailed diet history.
  • A nutritional diagnosis will be made.
  • A dietetic care plan will be agreed with you, including verbal and written tailored dietary information specific to your needs.