The Nutrition and Dietetic service provides intervention for children and their families / carers for any diet related or nutritional issues.  The Paediatric Team is based at Sunderland Royal Hospital and is part of a wider dietetic service.

Criteria for access

Referrals are accepted from all healthcare professionals for children under the age of 19 years.  When a referral does not meet the criteria for the Paediatric Team, interventions may be offered from the Adult Team.

Referrals are taken from:

• Consultants

• GP's

For Specialist Childhood Weight Management Service:

• LAF

• Self-referral via LAF

• School Nurse

• GP's

• Social Worker

• Consultant

Universal Services

The Paediatric Team offers a universal service to all children who require support with their diet or nutrition.  The Paediatric Team provides advice and support for both inpatients and outpatients in Sunderland.

Targeted services

The Nutrition and Dietetic service is commissioned to deliver a specialist weight management service for children and their families / carers who are over a healthy weight.  This service works in partnership with the Local Authority. 

Specialist services

The Paediatric Team is able to offer dietetic intervention for all medical conditions.  All referrals are triaged to ensure children are seen by the most appropriate Dietitian.

Children with the following conditions may be seen by a Dietitian.

• Autism

• Cerebral Palsy

• Neuro-disability

• ADHD

• Inherited metabolic conditions / genetic mutations

• Ex-premature infants / children

This list is not exhaustive and other medical conditions not lister here may require dietetic support.

Dietitians work with other agencies including health, social and community staff

• Multi-Disciplinary Team: Nurses, Doctors, Physio, Occupational Therapist, Health Care Assistants

• Ward staff

• Consultants

• Specialist School Nurses

• GP's

• School nurses

• Health Visitors

• School Meals (Council, school meals dietitian, head teacher/staff)

• Social Workers

• Early Help Advice Teams

• Foster carers

• Special guardians

Paediatric Dietitians working together in partnership for an individual child/young person.

• Team Around the Family

• Child in Need

• Child Protection Plan

• Multi-Disciplinary Team

• Discharge planning meetings

• Professionals meetings

Targeted services

• The Nutrition and Dietetic service is commissioned to deliver a specialist weight management service for children and their families / carers who are of an unhealthy weight.  This service works in partnership with the Local Authority.

• Assessment and Treatment

• Tailored to individual needs of the individual child and their family.

• Process for Assessing Needs

• Diagnosis is made prior to referral to the service.

• Any concerns raised by family that may be raised during consultation are fed back to the referrer for further assessment or referral on to other services.

Risk Assessments

Each individual child is risk-assessed on an informal basis. No formal assessments for other conditions at present.