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Who are the Community Dietetics Service?
Mersey Care Community Dietitians provide a service to adults who registered with a GP in Liverpool, St Helens and Knowsley, South Sefton and Southport and Formby. We have a paediatric service in St Helens and Knowsley.
We help support long term lifestyle changes to diet to manage your symptoms and improve your quality of life.
How do I get offered an appointment?
You will receive a letter asking you to contact us to arrange an appointment. We will offer an appointment at a place, date and time to suit you.
This helps to lower the number of patients not attending appointments.
You may be unable to phone us due to hearing or voice problems, so we are happy to receive an email.
What happens if I miss my appointment?
If you do not attend your appointment, you may be discharged from the service.
We may contact you to understand if you need another appointment. Consideration will be given to vulnerable patients.
About your appointment
- It’s helpful to bring your appointment letter, a list of any medications you are taking and contact details for others who may be involved in your care
- You may also wish to bring along a partner, relative, friend or carer for support
- We can arrange translation services and support for those with hearing, visual or other impairments
- It is useful to think of what your goals are and what you would like to achieve during your appointment.
What happens at the appointment?
- Please tell us what you want to get from your appointment and how you feel we can support you in achieving your treatment goals, we will listen to you
- We may ask you about what you eat and drink and how these fit into your daily life
- We may ask you about activity levels and other factors that can affect your food requirements
- We may weigh you using stand on scales/hoist/wheelchair scales or take an arm measurement to monitor your weight
- We will ask you about any health conditions and medications
- You may be asked what is important to you and set some personal goals. Together we will formulate a plan, this approach is called goal based outcomes
- The dietitian will help you understand why you may benefit from dietary changes and will guide and support you in making changes
- You will be given the opportunity to ask questions
- You may be offered written information
- We may offer you a further appointment to review your goals, but we cannot guarantee this will be with the same dietitian
- Please let us know if you want copies of your clinic letters.
What happens if I need to rearrange or cancel my appointment?
If you have an appointment but are unable to attend, let us know as soon as possible so that we can offer the slot to somebody else.
We will arrange a new appointment for you. If you no longer need an appointment, please let us know.
Choosing how you would like to be contacted
Please let us know when you call or email how you want us to contact you.
If you require an urgent assessment we may call you to offer a consultation on the same day. This may be via telephone or a home visit. Please let us know if you do not want this approach and we will make sure our records reflect this.
What happens after the appointment?
We may offer you a second appointment and this will be discussed with you.
Why might I be discharged from the service?
If you are admitted to hospital, you will be discharged and your GP or referrer will need a new referral.
You may also be discharged if you do not attend appointments or if you have completed your goals of treatment.
Will I be given oral nutritional supplement drinks?
Oral nutritional supplements will only be considered if clinically indicated as these should only be used for certain conditions.
If you have been prescribed nutritional supplements, your dietitian will discuss if these are still required and suggest dietary changes to help you.
If you require an ongoing prescription of nutritional supplements, you may be switched to an alternative type of nutritional supplement used in the community setting.
Where can I find more information?
Please visit our website service page for further information.
If you would like to know about waiting times in your area or are concerned about your dietary intake or symptoms, please call your local department. All contact details are on the right hand side of this page.
Our patients matter
Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust listens andresponds to patients and their carers to help improve the services we deliver.
If you have any comments, compliments or concerns you can speak with a member of staff or contact our Patient Advice and LiaisonService (PALS) and Complaints Team.
Telephone: 0151 471 2377Freephone: 0800 328 2941Email: palsandcomplaints
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Approval date: 24 April 2026
Version number: 1