C&V LHB Dietitians

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board Dietetics team have made some strong adjustments to the usual way of working during the pandemic. As a nutrition and public health dietetics service, they have had a number of staff deployed to the Dragons Heart Hospital.

Within Public Health the staff have had a key role to play in ensuring that accurate nutrition messages are accessible to the public, making sure people are as healthy as they can be. The team have written informative pieces of literature since the virus began including; Eating Well during Covid, Food and Mood and Eating Well for Children and young people. C&V Dietetics team are members of both the Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan and Food Response Action Groups ensuring that issues of food access and food insecurity are addressed. They have informed Local Authority Sector and Third Sector organisations on maximising the nutritional content of food parcels and providing practical recipe ideas and support around special diets. The team are also in the process of converting the Nutrition Skills for Life courses to virtual courses so increasing access to up to date evidence based messages.

Emma Holmes Clinical Lead for Public Health Dietetics describes the importance of people looking after their health and wellbeing during this unprecedented time. “Ensuing that everyone is able to eat a healthy balanced diet to maximise their health both now and the future. Trying new recipes together as a family is a fun way to spend time in lockdown. There is an awareness of the level of poverty we know that levels of food poverty has increased and so support around this issue is vital”.

Since Covid, like many other services, there is greater recognition for the work offered within the community. “The dietitian profile and what we can offer has increased.” Emma explains.

“All aspects of food related work will have impacted on all members of society, particularly those receiving food parcels or accessing other provision. Partners have appreciated the input of dietitians and support workers, as the go to profession for messages on nutrition”.