Information for health care professionals and care homes

On this page

• Dietetics referrals
• Information for care homes

Dietetics referrals

Adults

Please read the referral criteria before sending a referral.

GPs and other healthcare professionals can refer adult patients by completing our referral form. Please email the form to communitydietitians@wsh.nhs.uk. GPs can also find the form on DXS.

Children

To refer a child, please complete the paediatric referral form and send it through the Electronic Referral System (ERS). Please read the referral criteria before sending a referral.

Please make sure all forms are fully completed. Incomplete forms will be returned and may delay treatment.

We only accept referrals for patients registered with a West Suffolk or Thetford GP. Please check our adult and paediatric referral criteria below to make sure your patient is eligible.

Information for care homes

West Suffolk community dietitians have collated information for care home staff to help them recognise and treat residents at risk of malnutrition, using the malnutrition universal screening tool (MUST).

Training

Information about online training for care homes on nutritional screening and nutrition support can be accessed on the British Association of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (BAPEN) website or on the PrescQIPP website.

Please be aware that it is the care home’s responsibility ensure they have adequate training in place to meet the Care Quality Commission (CQC) Regulation 14: “Meeting nutritional and hydration needs”.

Further supporting guidance can also be found on the British Dietetic Association (BDA)’s care home digest.

Diet sheets

Below are links to diet sheets that may help with managing patients in care homes:

• Fortifying your meals
• High calorie snacks
• Nourishing drinks
• Nutrition support in diabetes
• Texture modified snacks
• Texture modified diets
• Diet and pressure injuries