Clinical Nutrition

Our dietitians work across a range of specialty areas in the hospital including:

• Acute Medical Admissions Unit and Emergency Department (ED)
• Burns Unit
• Cardiology and Respiratory Medicine
• Cardiothoracic Surgery
• Critical Care
• Diabetes and Endocrinology
• ENT and Maxillofacial Surgery (including head and neck cancer surgery)
• Gastroenterology and Hepatology
• Gynae-Oncology Surgery
• Infectious Diseases
• Intestinal Rehabilitation
• Haematology
• Medical Oncology
• Medicine for the Elderly
• Nephrology
• Neurology: Adult Ketogenic Diet Service and Adult Narcolepsy Service
• Radiation Oncology
• Surgery (including upper GI and colorectal surgery).

• All patients referred to the Clinical Nutrition Department must be under the care of a St James’s Hospital consultant.
• Referrals are accepted from St James’s Hospital medical, nursing and multidisciplinary team staff.
• Unfortunately, referrals from GPs cannot be accepted. Local community nutrition and dietetic services may be available for patients under the care of their GP.
• See here for contacts for community dietetic referrals.

About your clinical nutrition appointment

You will be given an appointment if you are referred to a dietitian by your doctor in St James’s Hospital. You will be sent two text messages as reminders before your appointment with a dietitian. Your dietitian will assess your nutritional status and calculate your nutritional requirements. A specific nutrition care plan will be designed with you to meet your nutritional needs.

Please note our cancellation / non-attendance policy

• If you are unable to attend your appointment for any reason, please contact us by phone or email clinicalnutritionsec@stjames.ie at least 48 hours in advance. There is a waiting list to attend this service. By cancelling your appointment in advance, we can then offer this appointment to another patient.
• If you cancel two appointments within one year, you will be discharged from our service. If discharged, another referral will be required from your consultant to see a dietitian.
• If you do not attend your appointment, a further appointment will not be scheduled.

The Clinical Nutrition Department has been accredited as a base training hospital for undergraduate students of the Bachelor of Science in Human Nutrition and Dietetics, Technological University Dublin and the University of Dublin since 1986.  The department also provides nutrition placement for University College Cork and Ulster University at Coleraine.

The department actively participates in the training of student dietitians. As a result of this commitment, the opportunities for work experience or shadowing are limited. Our limited shadowing slots will be prioritised to those that are applying for a course in human nutrition and dietetics.

Please submit your CV to; clinicalnutritionsec@stjames.ie for consideration between September and November and we will revert to you with potential dates in the following year.

Each year, the department participates in the SCOPe and Social Care Professionals Open Day. The day is aimed at 4th-6th year secondary school students or anyone interested in a career in any of the five social care professions. Each of the professions will give a brief overview of their role and attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions. 

Click on the links below to see more information on nutrition and health.

Please note that these resources and websites provide general information. Your dietitian may provide you with different advice that has been tailored to your specific condition/s.

Nutrition Facts and Recipes
HSE malnutrition supportive resources
UCC/HSE ‘Making the Most of Every Bite’ recipe book
Safefood ‘101 Square Meals’ recipe book

Community education programmes
HSE PHEW (community programme for healthy eating and weight management)
HSE Diabetes Education Programmes

We welcome any comments or suggestions for improvements to our service.

If you wish to provide feedback, please contact the Clinical Nutrition Manager, Ms Sandra Brady, at; clinicalnutritionsec@stjames.ie or call (01) 416 2180.

The Department of Clinical Nutrition has members of staff involved in research and audit, with many publications in peer-reviewed journals.