This section is aimed at health professionals working with patients who have respiratory conditions
Our years of experience working in a variety of NHS settings means we are fully aware nutritional resources remain minimal in this specialist area, despite increasing scientific evidence to show how nutrition impacts on the progression of disease and prognosis. This is particularly true in the outpatient settings where nutrition screening and appropriate nutrition interventions could have the most impact.
One of the main reasons for starting Respiratory Nutrition was to raise awareness of the importance of nutrition on lung disease progression to people with chronic respiratory conditions and the health professionals who look after them. We want to work with and support our NHS colleagues who may not currently have the appropriate time resources available to be able to explore and treat nutrition issues effectively. Working together we can raise awareness and improve nutrition knowledge, screening and treatment to improve nutritional care for those with respiratory conditions.
To help with this we are creating presentations and videos on Instagram and YouTube. These are intended to provide patients and health professionals with useful, up to date information on nutrition and to help them understand the impact it can have on health. They also signpost to appropriate resources, free to all, to help improve nutrition knowledge and empower those with respiratory conditions to manage their own health better and proactively seek further nutrition advice and support when needed.
Pulmonary rehabilitation education groups
The NHS plan includes intentions to expand pulmonary rehabilitation services so more people can benefit from the improved outcomes seen for people with respiratory conditions attending these sessions. Pulmonary rehab courses include the nutritional aspects of respiratory health but not all pulmonary rehab teams are supported by a dietitian. We would like the opportunity to visit established pulmonary rehab teams without specialist dietetic support and present the latest evidence on nutrition topics. For teams looking to expand services we would like to support pulmonary rehab teams by providing the nutritional elements of the course to patients and staff. Please let us know if you think we could help support your team by tendering for contracts and helping improve effectiveness and outcomes of pulmonary rehab.
Presentations to respiratory service teams and GP surgery teams
We would be happy to visit local respiratory service teams and GP surgery teams to present the latest evidence on the nutritional aspects of respiratory conditions (free of charge subject to our availability). If you would like more information on how we can support your service please get in touch by clicking on ‘Contact Us’ at the bottom of this page and completing the contact form.
Patient support groups
We have experience presenting to specialist respiratory patient support groups and would really like to have more opportunities to be able to do this. Please do get in touch if we can help in any way by clicking on ‘Contact Us’ at the bottom of this page and completing the contact form.
Referring patients to Dietitian
If you have a patient with a respiratory condition who you suspect is malnourished and needs a comprehensive nutrition assessment by a dietitian, please contact their GP surgery for a referral to a community dietitian working within the NHS.
If you would like to make a private referral for a patient with a respiratory condition please get in touch by clicking on ‘Contact Us’ at the bottom of this page and completing the contact form. We can provide you with our contact details to liaise further.
If you would like to make a private referral for a patient without a respiratory condition please see our consultation page for further details on the medical conditions we provide specialist nutrition assessments and advice for.