Service available in:

If you are a GP or Health Care professional and you'd like to refer a patient into our service, please check the inclusion and exclusion criteria below and download the referral form and email to dietitian@merseycare.nhs.uk

  • We see patients in their own homes, care homes, outpatient clinics at various locations around the city and we also provide Dietetic cover to the Integrated Community Reablement and Assessment Service (ICRAS) hubs run by Liverpool Council.

Inclusion criteria:

  • Transitional care for young people aged 16 to 17 years who are under the care of Dietetics in Alder Hey and are transitioning into adult services
  • Adult patients 18 years with any of the below
  • Home enteral tube feeding assessments and equipment and feed delivery ordering
  • Troubleshooting issues relating to enteral feeding with an emphasis on AED and admission avoidance
  • Complex nutrition support in conjunction with nutrition teams at Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
  • Nutrition support for malnourished patients and those at risk of malnutrition, including advice on maximising food intake and reviewing requirements for oral nutritional supplements
  • Dietary advice for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) if not under a specialist clinic
  • Dietary advice for Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) eg. Crohns disease, ulcerative colitis if not under a specialist clinic
  • Nutrition assessment for those with cancer particularly head and neck cancer, gastrointestinal cancers, neurological conditions eg. Stroke, Parkinsons Disease, Motor Neurone Disease
  • Nutritional assessment for those with swallowing problems, working with Speech and Language Therapy recommendations

Exclusions – St Helens and Knowsley Community Dietitians do not provide a service to the below areas

​​​​​​​Childrens and Young People’s Eating Disorder Services:

This is an eating disorder service for children and young people aged 8 to 18 years. The areas covered include Halton, Knowsley, St Helens and Warrington. The service is based at Childrens and Families’ Wellbeing Hub, Knowsley Resource & Recovery Centre, Whiston Hospital Site, L35 5DR, Tel: 0151 351 8610.

Please see below website for further information. Eating Disorder Service for Children and Young People  (self-referrals are accepted)

Adult Eating Disorder Service:

This is an eating disorder service for adults aged 18 or over covering Knowsley and St Helens. The service is also based at Knowsley Resource and Recovery Centre, Whiston Hospital Site, L35 5DR, Tel: 0151 351 8610

Paediatrics acceptance criteria

  • Food allergy
  • Faltering growth
  • Fussy eating/restricted diet
  • Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
  • Coeliac disease
  • Weight management up to 4years of age
  • Constipation
  • Iron deficiency anaemia
  • Enteral tube feeding

You may find the below information useful whilst awaiting a Paediatric Dietitian appointment. The advice below does not replace individual advice from a Dietitian. If you have any concerns with your appointment, waiting time or any concerns, please phone the St Helens and Knowsley Community Dietitians on 0151 351 8550.

Allergy

For children who have confirmed food allergies or are suspected of having food allergies the following resources are available.

General allergy information

The following leaflets provide useful information regarding food allergies, diagnosis and management.

Cow’s milk protein allergy

The links below give advice on cow’s milk protein allergy, how to manage and how a dietitian might help. It also explains the difference between cow’s milk protein allergy and lactose intolerance.

ARFID

These links will provide further information about Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID). If your child does not have a diagnosis of ARFID but you feel they have some of the symptoms, these links will give you more information and can support future discussions with your GP regarding your concerns.

Autism

The factsheet below provides useful information about common dietary problems affecting people with autism and how dietitians can help.

Constipation

Useful resources if your child has constipation.

Fussy eating

These websites provide information regarding fussy eating with some tips to manage fussy eating in children and how to create a positive mealtime experience for your child. Resources are appropriate for toddlers and older children.

Gastrointestinal conditions

Coeliac Disease

The following websites are excellent sources of information if your child has been diagnosed with Coeliac Disease and has been advised to follow a gluten free diet.

IBS

The leaflet below provides information regarding Irritable Bowel Syndrome with management strategies.

Weaning information

General nutrition information 

Lactose Intolerance

This website provides information about lactose intolerance including what the symptoms are, which foods contain lactose and possible investigations your GP might consider when diagnosing lactose intolerance.

Contact information:

Knowsley and St Helens Community Dietetic Service 
Whiston Health Centre 
Old Colliery Road 
Whiston 
L35 3SX 

Telephone: 0151 351 8550
Email: dietitian@merseycare.nhs.uk