Paediatric Dietetics

(Diagnosed on blood tests; this does not include vitamin D of which dietary sources are limited and is sourced predominantly from exposure to UV light)

- A fall across 1 or more weight centile spaces, with birthweight below the 9th centile

- A fall across 2 or more weight centile spaces, with birthweight between the 9th and 91st centile

- A fall across 3 or more weight centile spaces, with birthweight above the 91st centile

- BMI is < 2nd centile

Where severe e.g. less than five foods, or combined with failure to thrive/nutritional deficiencies.

Note: A three day food diary must be included as part of the referral.

• Non-IgE cows milk protein allergy
• Gastroenterological condition, e.g. severe chronic constipation, coeliac disease

(Weight >2 centiles above the height, BMI >98th centile).

Note: Patients must have completed the 12 week Healthy Hounslow weight management programme prior to referral. More information about Healthy Hounslow can be found on the Healthy Hounslow website. 

Home enteral feeding (e.g. NGT feeding, gastrostomy feeding). 

Who do we see

We accept home enteral feeding referrals patients aged 0-17 years who are registered with a Hounslow borough GP.

Paediatric home enteral feeding (HEF) discharge from hospital

Before discharge hospital teams are required to:

• Email the Dietetic team to notify of a likely discharge
• Register on Abbott e-reg (Abbott hospitals only, community team will assist for out of area/non-Abbott hospital referrals)
• Request pump delivery (Abbott hospitals): hospital team to submit Abbott e-reg to Abbott to request pump delivery before discharge, before e-reg transfer to community team, this can be done without budget codes (if pump required) 
• Referral form completion: Complete the referral form and email it to both Dietetics team and Single Point of Access (SPA).
• Complete and send GP letter to request script for feed (to be delivered via Abbott Hospital to Home service - Abott will contact the GP to request prescription prior to first delivery)

On discharge hospital teams are required to: 

• The ward discharge team will need to provide a ten day supply of feed and ancillaries on the day of discharge (14 days supply will be required over Christmas and New year period) 
• Transfer Abbott e-reg to (Kinga Dojnikowska) at Hounslow and Richmond Healthcare Trust on discharge only (we will submit for first delivery once discharge is confirmed or on the next working day if it's a bank holiday or weekend) 
• Email a final handover to the Dietetics Team

Please also ensure Community Nursing are aware and any other relevant teams, e.g. health visitors if weight monitoring is required. 
 
For further information please contact the Dietitians team.

Exclusion criteria:

• Children not registered with a Hounslow Borough GP
• Children with eating disorders or suspected eating disorders (refer to CAMHS/Eating Disorders Service)
• Weight management referrals ≥5 years of age
• General fussy eating
• Weaning difficulties
• Suspected IgE/immediate food allergy- requires referral to Allergy MDT + Allergy MDT dietitian
• Acute constipation
• General healthy eating advice / food plans for those without an underlying medical diagnosis
• Children with Diabetes – refer to Children’s Diabetes MDT Service at Chelsea and Westminster NHS Trust

Once a referral is submitted by a healthcare professional or GP, it is first checked to make sure it meets the criteria for our service. Referrals are then triaged according to clinical need.

You will be sent a letter inviting you to contact us to book your first appointment. If you have been referred to the dietitian and you have not heard back from us yet please check your email inbox including your junk folder before contacting the person who made the referral. We will contact the referrer to let them know if the referral has not been accepted and provide a reason why. 

Your first appointment

Your first appointment may be over the telephone or in person at one of our clinic locations. If after speaking with you on the phone we feel you need to be seen face to face then this will be arranged for your follow-up appointment.

If you cannot make your appointment

If the appointment is not convenient for you, it is important that you call the department on 020 8973 3575 as soon as possible to arrange another appointment.

If you require an interpreter, please call the department so that one can be arranged for your appointment.

We take referrals from all healthcare professionals, including GPs.

We do not accept self-referrals.

Referrals can be made by completing our Dietetics referral form and emailing it to our Single Point of Access (SPA) service.

Paediatric Home Enteral Feeding referral form