Dietitians Week: More than just a job
It's Dietitians Week! From 1-5 June, we're joining the British Dietetic Association (BDA) in celebrating our incredible NHFT Dietitians, shining a light on their expertise, dedication and the meaningful difference they make every single day.
Dietitians are qualified and regulated health professionals that assess, diagnose and treat dietary and nutritional problems at an individual and wider public health level.
Our NHFT Nutrition and Dietetics team supports people across Northamptonshire, in Kettering General Hospital, Northampton General Hospital, community settings and a wide range of specialist services.
Dietetics as a profession
We recently spoke to Aiden, our Dietetic Apprentice, about what inspired him to pursue a career in Dietetics.
Aiden shared:
"I decided to train as a dietitian because I have a strong interest in nutrition and its vital role in supporting health, from energy production and immunity to muscle growth and repair .
Although my previous degree was sport focused, exposure to clinical settings through my studies and work experience showed me how impactful dietetics can be, particularly seeing how grateful patients were when I supported them to make positive changes .
This experience motivated me to pursue a clinical dietetic career, and I chose the apprenticeship route because it allows me to develop my skills through hands on experience while learning within a supportive, experienced multi-disciplinary team."
Aiden's passion reflects what Dietitians Week is all about - people choose this profession because they care about improving lives.
The work of our Nutrition and Dietetics team
Good nutrition is essential for everyone to feel well and thrive. But what works for one person can be completely unsuitable for someone else. With so much online advice, it can be hard to know what's right for you. That's why speaking to a trained specialist and following evidence based guidance is so important.
We caught up with Emily, NHFT Paediatric Dietitian, who shared how her personal and professional worlds come together:
"As a paediatric dietitian, I also have a daughter with multiple allergies who is currently on an oral immunotherapy clinical trial. Therefore, dietetics is definitely not 'just a job' for me. I know
first-hand how vital dietitians are in supporting families and making a real difference in people's lives .
In my current role as a neonatal dietitian, I train doctors and nurses, update and write hospital guidelines based on the latest evidence and support paren
ts through difficult feeding conversations. Working with other healthcare professionals, I carry out complex calculations to ensure babies receiving parenteral nutrition (nutrition given by injection or infusion), breastmilk and fortification get the nutrition they need to grow."
Emily's story shows the heart of Dietitians Week, skilled professionals using compassion, science and teamwork to help people live healthier lives.
Celebrating the team
We are incredibly proud of achievements within the team.
In this video, you'll hear from the wonderful Claudette, NHFT Dietetic Assistant, who shares how proud she is to have completed her Apprenticeship and what she's looking forward to next. Claudette said:
Returning to study has been extremely challenging. Thank you to the entire NHFT nutrition and dietetic team for their incredible support and encouragement. I am excited to now continue my journey to become a fully qualified dietitian and continue my work with care homes and the elderly. It's my passion.
Claudette's dedication, resilience, and passion reflect the very best of the profession and we couldn't be prouder to celebrate her success during Dietitians Week.
The impact of the team
A dietitian is a qualified, regulated health professional who uses evidence based nutrition and health science to assess, diagnose and support people with a wide range of dietary and nutritional needs. They work with both healthy and unwell individuals across the NHS in hospitals, community services and specialist settings. They support conditions such as diabetes, IBS, eating disorders, food allergies and malnutrition.
The NHFT Dietetics team provides expert care across Northamptonshire, including Kettering General Hospital, Northampton General Hospital, community services and specialist areas such as mental health, critical care, cancer care, kidney care, home enteral feeding and paediatrics.
They also work closely with care homes across the county, offering tailored advice and education to s
taff and residents. During Nutrition and Hydration Week in March, Claudette, NHFT Dietetic Assistant, and the team, delivered interactive training sessions in local care homes, covering:
- Hydration challenges in older adults
- Recognising dehydration
- Food safety and tolerance
- Root causes of malnutrition
The feedback was very positive, with one staff member sharing:
The session was very useful and directly relevant to daily practice. The team feel better equipped to support residents with their nutrition and hydration needs.
Similar sessions are now set to be rolled out across Northampton - helping more care home staff benefit from the expertise of our dietetic team.
Spotlight on the team
Our NHFT dietitians are passionate about what they do - turning complex science into practical, personalised advice that empowers people to make informed food and lifestyle choices.
A huge thank you to all our wonderful colleagues and supporters for the valuable work you do every day. Your specialist expertise truly makes a difference for service users across Northamptonshire.
We asked some of the team why they chose to work in Dietetics, watch this video to hear from the team:
If you'd like to learn more about the work of dietitians, visit www.bda.uk.com.
You can find out more about our Nutrition and Dietetics services on our website.