Please note: this information is intended for Healthcare Professionals
The Paediatric Dietitians are based at Kingston Hospital and Raynes Park Health Centre (Kingston Hospital satellite clinic). We accept outpatient clinic referrals from GPs, Health Visitors, School Nurses and SLTs in Kingston and Richmond. Some GP practices within the Kingston Borough have in-house Dietitians who provide a local service and referrals can also be made to these clinics. Please check with your relevant GP dietitian regarding which patients they are able to see.
We also accept referrals from internal services based at Kingston Hospital e.g. NNU, Paediatricians and specialist nurses.
Unfortunately, in view of the increased demand and waiting lists we have had to review our referral criteria and redefine who we will see, to ensure that we prioritise dietetic care for those who need it the most. Therefore, we regret we can no longer accept referrals for selective/fussy eating with no associated growth faltering or nutritional/serious medical complications, and are also unable to accept referrals for patients with an out of area GP.
Referral process:
Email the dietetic service (khft.dietetics@nhs.net) with the patient’s name, DOB, NHS or Hospital (MRN) number and clear reason for referral. We do not have a specific form to be completed, to ensure the referral process is user friendly, but please do include weight and height history (with centiles) and clearly documented any evidence of growth faltering. If you do not specify clear centiles/measurements, there is a chance that your referral will be rejected.
Paper referrals are no longer accepted.
We will not accept new referrals for patients whose care already falls under another local hospital (West Middlesex, St George’s or Epsom/St Helier’s).
Referrals for food allergies:
We accept all referrals for single milk allergies (both IgE and non- IgE mediated) and egg allergy.
Referrals for other food allergies or multiple food allergies should be made to the Paediatric Consultants at Kingston Hospital or Paediatric Allergy Clinic at Kingston Hospital.
We will continue to accept referrals for multiple food allergies from our Kingston Hospital Paediatricians once the appropriate assessment and testing has been conducted by them.
We will not see patients for allergy testing or food challenges purposes only.
Home enteral feeding (HEF) patients:
We provide a Home enteral feeding dietetic service to families registered with a Kingston or Richmond GP. The Paediatric HEF Dietitians are based at Kingston Hospital (Fiona Bryant provides the service for the Kingston area and Louisa Fogg the service for the Richmond area).
Cancellations, rescheduling and non-attendances (DNAs):
Given increasing waiting times for our clinics, patients will be allowed to reschedule an appointment a maximum of 2 times whilst under our care. Rescheduling on the day will be allowed once (unless there are exceptional circumstances). Patients will be discharged back to the referrer after this and will need to be referred back to dietetics.
Patients who DNA with no notice will be discharged back to their GP/ referrer after one missed appointment. In the case of children who are considered at risk or have a child in need/ child protection plan, the social worker/health visitor/GP will be contacted and an attempt to reschedule with the patient will be made a second time. If they DNA again, we will discharge them back to the care of the GP.
This will apply to both new patients and follow ups.
Tel: 0208 973 5280 (direct line to Paediatric Dietitia
Appointments/admin queries: 0208 973 5277
Referrals accepted by Paediatric Dietetics (Outpatients)
Urgent (within 4 weeks)*
As soon as possible (within 8 weeks)*
Routine (3-4 months)*
Growth Faltering – Poor weight gain (evidenced with centile chart and weight history)* (*Non-nutritional causes and Paediatrician referral should also be considered)
<1 year
<2 years
>2 years Restrictive Eaters on background of ASD / Sensory difficulties / ARFID
Food Allergies
Non-IgE Cow’s Milk Protein Allergy <1 year Confirmed other / multiple food allergies (referred by Paediatrician) <1 year
Non-IgE Cow’s Milk Protein Allergy >1year Confirmed other / multiple food allergies (referred by Paediatrician) <1 year
Selective eating with evidence of growth faltering or other serious medical, nutritional or social concerns
<1 year
<2 years
>2 years Restrictive Eaters on background of ASD / Sensory difficulties / ARFID
Food intolerances (e.g. lactose or wheat)
1 appointment only
Reflux
With Cow’s Milk Protein Allergy and/or faltering growth
Tube-fed patients
Those patients will be seen by the HEF team.
Coeliac Disease *GP referrals to be sent to Paediatrician in first instance
Confirmed new diagnosis who haven’t been seen by a dietitian
Confirmed diagnosis seen by a dietitian e.g. in GP clinic (or in Coeliac Clinic)
Iron Deficiency Anaemia (associated with poor diet)
1 appointment
Constipation (if associated with poor diet)
1 appointment
Weight management (BMI ≥ 99.6th centile or BMI ≥ 91st centile with co-morbidity; high weight or rapid inappropriate weight gain in children <2 years old)
Opt-in system (except if safeguarding concerns or child in need plan in place)
*Dependent on appointment availability
Other Dietetic clinics
Weight Management specialist clinics – Currently suspended
Children with Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes will be seen by Donna Van Zyl (Paediatric Diabetes Dietitian) as part of the Diabetes Team.
Children seen in MDT Paediatric Allergy Clinics will be seen by the dietitian covering on the day.
Children with Coeliac Disease will be followed-up in dietitian-led coeliac clinic.
Neonatal clinic – Exclusively booked by the dietitians for ex pre-term follow-ups.
Sources of additional information and support for children and young people that we are unable to see:
Referrals not accepted by the Paediatric Dietitians
Links to additional information/1st line advice that may be useful for health care professionals and/or families:
Selective/fussy eating without growth faltering or nutritional/social/ serious medical concerns
Patient Information Leaflets section (Paediatrics): will support basic queries on constipation, eczema, Gastro-oesophageal reflux, cow’s milk protein allergy
Links to refer to various paediatric services- including allergies
These are free and can be printed as required. There are a number available including basic milk and wheat allergy advice, calcium, Iron and vitamin D advice.
There is also some helpful information general healthy eating, packed lunches, food and mood and weaning.
Allergy UK is also an excellent source of fact sheets for various food allergies and intolerances and information regarding allergy testing and how to proceed with introduction of common allergens when weaning: https://www.allergyuk.org/
Patient-friendly advice on introduction of food allergens when weaning and on eczema management: https://preventallergies.org.au/
The Infant and Toddler Forum has helpful information about weaning, toddler diets and fussy /restrictive eating and is also a good resource for professional education: https://www.infantandtoddlerforum.org/
This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
Strictly Necessary Cookies
Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.
If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.