4. Paediatric referrals not appropriate for the Community Dietetic Service

GGC - Primary Care
NHS GGC

This guidance is part of the Community Nutrition and Dietetic Service Referral Guidance

Allergy

Children under the age of one year with an undiagnosed allergy or multiple allergies are not appropriate for the community dietitian.

Cow’s Milk Protein Allergy (CMPA)

There is an NHSGGC patient pathway for children with suspected Cow’s Milk Protein Allergy (CMPA) the following link has been provided for your information:
Cow's milk protein allergy in infants, Paediatrics (300) | NHSGGC

The pathway includes the steps required to confirm a diagnosis of Non IgE CMPA prior to referring to the dietitian. Once diagnosis is complete a referral to dietetics should be sent to the relevant dietetic service:

  • Children under one year old with Non IgE CMPA should be referred to the Royal Hospital for Children paediatric dietetic service.
  • Children over one year old with Non IgE CMPA should be referred to the community dietitian.

Paediatric patients under the care of specialist paediatric teams

Children under the care of a specialist paediatric team, such as diabetes, gastroenterology, metabolic etc. will have access to a specialist dietitian through their consultant or MDT colleagues. Such patients are not appropriate for the community dietitian.

Children who require Oral Nutritional Supplements (ONS) should be under the care of the paediatric service. The community dietitian is unable to initiate or advise on ONS for paediatric patients.

Paediatric patients with a suspected or diagnosed mental health condition

Children with either a diagnosed or suspected mental health or psychological condition that is impacting on their nutritional intake are not appropriate for the community dietitian and should be referred onto the appropriate specialist team for specialist dietetic assessment and advice.

Community dietitians are not specialists in child and adolescent mental health. Patients who require a specialist dietary assessment or advice from the Community Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) dietitian are not appropriate for the community dietitian. Patients who are already under the care of CAMHS are not appropriate for the community dietitian.

For further information click here: camhs_referral_criteria.pdf NHS GGC