Department of Nutrition and Dietetics

Due to the ongoing covid Pandemic, the Dietetic service within Lanarkshire is continuing to function differently. We endeavour to meet patient’s needs at this time with a degree of flexibility.

Around 50 per cent of appointments will be via telephone or video consultation.

Face to face appointments will be arranged for patients for whom virtual consultations are not appropriate or suitable.

For service-specific enquiries, contact:

Community Dietetic enquiries – 01698 754800
University Hospital Hairmyres Dietetic Department – 01355 585445
University Hospital Monklands Dietetic Department – 01236 712075
University Hospital Wishaw Dietetic Department – 01698 366411
Learning Disability Dietetic Department – 01698 752860
Mental Health Dietetic Department – 01686 759250

Dietitians are qualified health professionals. They help promote nutritional wellbeing as well as diagnose and treat nutrition-related problems. Your Dietitian will provide you with practical and safe dietary advice that is based on current scientific evidence. This will give you practical guidance to enable you to make appropriate lifestyle and food choices.

Dietitian’s complete a four year BSc (Hons) degree, or equivalent, and must be registered by the Health and Care Professions Council. They must adhere to a code of conduct. This includes continually developing their knowledge, skills and ensuring that their practice is evidence-based. A full list of Registered Dietitian’s can be found on Health and Care Professionsals website.

How to See a Dietitian

You can ask your General Practitioner (GP) or other health care professional to refer you to a dietitian.

If you are under the care of a hospital consultant they, or a specialist nurse attached to the multi-disciplinary service, can also refer you to a dietitian.

What happens during an appointment?

The dietitian will ask about your usual diet, eating pattern and lifestyle they will also ask about your health and any medicines you are currently taking. (It is useful to bring a list of current medications with you if possible).

The Dietitian will then agree an individual plan with you by giving suggestions and advice on how to improve your diet. The plan is individually tailored and is aimed at helping you to make specific, realistic and achievable changes to your diet. At the end of the session, we will discuss with you the arrangements for your next appointment if this is required.

You may be referred to a dietitian whilst you are an in-patient in one of the primary care hospitals in this case you will be seen in the ward and maybe followed up in the community.

Useful Resources

Useful Websites for Dietary Information

British Dietetic Association– the professional association and trade union for UK dietitians
NHS Inform
Diabetes UK– helping people manage their diabetes with healthy eating
British Heart Foundation– helping you eat healthy to reduce your risk of developing coronary heart disease
British Nutrition Foundation– providing information on food and nutrition
Drink Aware– helping people make better choices about drinking
Age UK– tips and advice on staying fit and healthy as you get older
Malnutrition Taskforce– helping to address avoidable and preventable malnutrition in older people
Managing adult malnutrition– helping community healthcare professionals identify and manage people in the UK who are at risk of disease-related malnutrition
Coeliac UK– providing information to help people suffering from Coeliac disease manage their health and diet
Kidney Care– information about managing your diet when you have kidney disease
World Cancer Research Fund – tips on how to eat healthily during cancer treatment

Your Feedback – comments, concerns and complaints

NHS Lanarkshire is committed to improving the service it provides to patients and their families. We therefore want to hear from you about your experience. If you would like to tell us about this please visit our feedback page.