Who we are

The Department of Nutrition & Dietetics comprises of a team of Dietitians, Dietetic Assistant Practitioners, Dietetic Assistants, Secretaries, Admin Assistants, Apprentices and is supported by Hospital volunteers.
Student Dietitians from the University of Hertfordshire join the department throughout their 3 year undergraduate degree for their training placements.

Dietitian

Dietitians are qualified health professionals who assess, diagnose and treat diet and nutrition problems at an individual and wider public health level. Uniquely, dietitians use the most up to date public health and scientific research on food, health and disease, which they translate into practical guidance to enable people to make appropriate lifestyle and food choices.

Dietitians may work in the NHS, private practice, industry, education, research, sport, media, public relations, publishing, non-government organisations and national and local government. Their advice influences food and health policy across the spectrum from government to local communities and individuals.

They are required to have an undergraduate degree (BSc Hons) in Nutrition & Dietetics or Postgraduate Diploma (PgDip) or Masters (MSc) in Dietetics.

Dietitians are statutorily regulated, with a protected title and governed by an ethical code, to ensure that they always work to the highest standard. Therefore the title dietitian can only be used by those appropriately trained professionals who have registered with the Health Care Professions Council and whose details are on the HCPC website.

Dietetic Assistant Practitioners

Dietetic Assistant Practitioners deliver delegated dietetic care to those patients who are at risk of malnutrition. They are educated to Foundation Degree level and have achieved specific dietetic competencies in line with those developed by the British Dietetic Association.

Dietetic Assistants

Dietetic Assistants work under the supervision of a dietitian in either a community or hospital setting. They are required to have good numeracy, literacy and communication skills with a qualification to the equivalent of NVQ level 3 and experience of working within a hospital/care setting.