Nutrition and Dietetics

Our dietetics service supports children by offering practical dietary advice or nutrition support to help improve their management of a specific health condition.

Dietitians at Alder Hey work across many different departments and services, as well as with the catering team to provide special diets for inpatients.

When a child or young person is referred to us we will:

Assess the need for dietary management
Check height, weight and other measures of growth and nutritional status
Plan the correct feed or diet based on our assessment
Explain the dietary treatment in a way that is understandable and manageable
Monitor the child’s progress and advise on changes when needed
Keep all the healthcare professionals involved up to date about dietary changes

When should a child see a dietitian?

There are a wide variety of diseases and conditions that may be helped by referral to a dietitian. Some of the reasons include:

Poor weight gain and growth
Higher than normal requirement for food and nutrition
Conditions which cause poor digestion of food
Conditions requiring changes to food intake, for example diabetes, food allergies, coeliac disease and inherited metabolic diseases
Children who have difficulties eating and drinking food and will require tube feeding
Children who need intravenous feeding

Further information

Food and dietary information for families

You will find clear advice and ideas about what to give children to eat, at all ages and stages on the Food Standards Agency website www.eatwell.gov.uk

I am confused about what age to start giving my baby solid food?

The current Department of Health advice is to introduce solid food from 6 months. There are lots of sources of help and advice, including your health visitor, local children’s centres and online help at www.nhs.uk/start4life

My GP has told me my child is overweight. Can you help?

We are sorry that we are unable to see children who are overweight but there are many people who can help you. Most local areas will be running projects to help children and their families lose weight. Depending on where you live there are different community based services you can access.

Liverpool – Healthy Families programme. Call 0151 295 3055 and also https://www.merseycare.nhs.uk/our-services/physical-health-services/healthy-families/
Sefton – Active Lifestyles team 0151 934 2352
Knowsley – Family Futures ask your GP for a referral to the programme
You can also find help and advice at www.nhs.uk/change4life and also www.mendprogramme.org

How do I become a Dietitian?

There are two ways to qualify as a registered dietitian:

Completion of a relevant degree
Completion of a post graduate qualification

Where can I go for more help with...?

Food allergies: support and advice from Allergy UK.
Coeliac disease – support and advice from Coeliac UK
Cystic fibrosis – support and advide from CF Trust
Diabetes – support and advice from Diabetes UK and the JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation)
Child Liver Disease - support and advice from Children's Liver Disease Foundation
Artificial Nutrition - support and advice from Patients on Intraveneous & Nastrogastic Nutrition Therapy
PKU (Phenylketonuria) – support and advice from the National Society of PKU
Metabolic disease – support and advice from Climb
Ketogenic diets – support and advice from Matthew's Friends

Special Feeds Unit

The special feeds unit (SFU) is an integral part of the dietetic department, responsible for the safe preparation of specialised infant formulas and enteral feeds to exacting standards of accuracy, in an environment that is clean and meets the requirements of the food standards act. The SFU should only be used for the preparation of specialised infant formulas and enteral feeds. Where possible sterile, ready to feed products will be provided for patient use.

Requests for specialised infant formulas and enteral feeds should be ordered through order entry section of Meditech.

The feeds unit is open 365 days a year.

8am – 4pm, Monday to Friday
8am - 2pm, weekends and Bank Holidays

Information for professionals: Referrals

We currently accept referrals for children under the care of an Alder Hey Consultant. Patients can be referred by letter or Meditech. Referrals must include the following:

Weight
Length or height
Head circumference if under 2 years
Relevant clinical details
Reason for referral

We are unable to accept referrals for common childhood nutritional problems as these are more correctly dealt with by the primary care team. These include iron deficiency, obesity and constipation.

We are unable to accept referrals from GPs. GP referrals should be made to the local community paediatric dietitians. Your local PCT should be able to direct you to appropriate services.

Services in the Community

What we do

The Community Children's Dietetic Service in Sefton provides up to date information and guidance about childhood nutritional matters to children, carers, professionals in contact with children, and a variety of patient support groups.

The service supports children who require a special diet, and their carers. They ensure nutritional needs are met and adjusted for growth and disease progression.