The Clinical Nutrition team comprises of entry level, senior and clinical specialist dietitians who work across a range of specialties in both the inpatient and outpatient settings, supported by dietetic assistants, administration staff and dietetic managers. Dietitians in St. James’s Hospital (SJH) play a crucial role in the health, wellbeing and quality of life of patients attending SJH. We deliver care at all stages on the patient’s healthcare journey from diagnosis through treatment, promoting self-management, recovery and well-being.
Our mission is to improve lives through integrated, innovative and evidence informed practice.
More than one in three patients are malnourished or at risk of malnutrition on admission to St. James’s Hospital. Malnutrition rates are rising and are higher in older patients and oncology patients. Dietitians work as part of a multidisciplinary team to identify at risk patients early and collaborate with patients and staff to put individualised nutrition care plans in place.
Dietitians use their knowledge of nutrition, physiology and science to individually assess and treat disease specific nutritional issues. We calculate individual nutritional requirements and devise specific, individualised evidence based nutritional care plans to include therapeutic diets, enteral tube feeding and oral nutritional support as well as health promotion. As part of the SCOPe directorate we work closely with the wider multidisciplinary team with patient care at the centre of our approach.
To be a dietitian in Ireland, you must be registered with CORU Dietitians Registration Board. CORU is Ireland’s multi-profession health regulator. CORU’s role is to protect the public by promoting high standards of professional conduct and competence through statutory registration of health and social care professionals. All dietitians are required to follow a Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics and attain a high level standard of performance to remain on the register.
Our dietitians work across a range of specialty areas in the hospital including:
All patients referred to the Department of Clinical Nutrition 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 the HSE services finder page here to find your local primary care centre
About your appointment
You have been given an appointment because you were referred to the dietitian by your doctor in St James’s Hospital. You will receive details of your appointment in the post which should include the date, time and location of your appointment with the dietitian.
If you consented you will be sent 2 text messages as reminders before your appointment with the 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.
Notice of cancellation
If you are unable to attend your appointment for any reason, please contact us by phone: (01) 416 2180 or email: clinicalnutritionsec@stjames.ieat least 48 hours in advance. There is a waiting list to attend the dietitian. By cancelling your appointment in advance we can then offer this appointment to another person.
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 the dietitian.
Non-attendance
If you do not attend your appointment, a further appointment will not be scheduled.
How to get to your appointment
Our outpatient clinics are held in different areas in the hospital;
Please check your appointment card or letter to see where your appointment will be. Please see here for a map of the hospital site.
Please see here for details of how to get to the hospital including public transport options and car parking facilities.
If you are driving to your appointment, please aim to arrive 1 hour early to help with finding a car parking space. Please see here for hospital information on car parking.
Work Experience and Shadowing
The Clinical Nutrition Department at St James’s Hospital actively participates in the training of student dietitians. As a result of this commitment, opportunities for work experience or shadowing are limited. Unfortunately, we are not in a position to offer any transition year work placements at present. It is recommended that those interested in a career in dietetics visit the Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute website.
The SCOPe Health and Social Care Professions directorate at St. James's Hospital now run an annual transition year information event. Clinical Nutrition present at this event on the work of a Dietitian at St. James's Hospital. This presentation gives a detailed overview of a day in the life of a Dietitian, support, education and developmental opportunities in the department, directorate and hospital and career progression. Please keep an eye on our website and social media platform for further information.
Student Training
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 placements for University College Cork and Ulster University at Coleraine.
Student Placement Experience
“The experience and learning I received during my dietetic placement in St. James’s was fantastic. All of the Dietitians during my placement were extremely passionate about their profession and were consistently supportive throughout.”
Trinity Dietetic Student Experience
“The time I have spent in the Clinical Nutrition department in St. James’s has been invaluable to my understanding of the day to day workings of a Dietitian. I have a greater understanding and appreciation of what a Dietitian’s role is in a patient’s recovery.”
University College Cork Nutrition Student Experience
- Members of the SCOPe directorate who presented this year at the annual transition year event
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
Diabetes support courses - HSE.ie
HSE My Diabetes emails sign up | HSE.ie
Useful Websites
Welcome to Irish Nutrition & Dietetic Institute (INDI) Website - INDI
Home | Irish Cancer Society
Irish Heart Foundation
Diabetes Ireland
Dementia - Understand Together
Coeliac Society of Ireland
Irish Kidney Association
CORU - Regulating Health & Social Care Professionals
Irish Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism
European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism)
St James’s Hospital requires applicants to complete a competency based application form for jobs within the dietetic department. Click here for more information on current vacancies.
Why you should join our dietetic team in SJH?
Our staff are our most valued asset and the work we do is made possible through the commitment of our staff and their continued knowledge and skills development. For entry levels joining the Clinical Nutrition team here in St. James there are over 10 rotations available including Head and Neck Cancer, Upper GI Surgery, Medical Oncology, Gastroenterology, Medicine for the Elderly and many more interesting areas in dietetics. The aim of these rotations is to build your knowledge and skills in a wide range of dietetic areas at the beginning of your career. Clinical supervision is an integral part of the culture in the Clinical Nutrition Department in St. James’s Hospital.
Currently there are over 12 Clinical Specialist Dietitians working in the Clinical Nutrition Department here in St. James’s Hospital in the areas of; Upper GI Surgery, Functional GI Disorders, Nephrology, Ketogenic Diet Therapy, Intestinal Failure and Intestinal Rehabilitation, Diabetes and Endocrinology, Medical Oncology and Home Parenteral Nutrition, Critical Care, Head and Neck Cancer Surgery and Radiological Inserted Gastrostomy Tubes. These Clinical Specialists regularly carry out tutorials and workshops in their areas of expertise. The remit of Clinical Specialist Dietitians at St James’s and nationally is to establish and maintain high standards of evidence-based, patient-centred dietetic intervention, including initiation and participation in research, audit and quality improvement
Testimonial from our Clinical Specialist Dietitian in Diabetes and Endocrinology
“The Diabetes Day Centre in St James’s Hospital is one of the largest centres in the country with a large cohort of people with type 1 and complex type 2 diabetes attending our service. Dietitians are an integral part of the multidisciplinary team and we have a close working relationship with medical and nursing colleagues.
Our team of dietitians are involved in providing structured education (DAFNE) to patients living with type 1 diabetes, support patients to use technology to reduce the burden of living with diabetes and also contribute to inpatient care of these patients. We strive to provide evidence based, quality care to our patients living with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes so ongoing continued professional development is essential.”
Testimonial from Clinical Specialist Dietitian in Radiologically Inserted Gastrostomy (RIG) tubes
“My service supports patients who have had a RIG (Radiologically Inserted Gastrostomy) feeding tube inserted for nutritional support. I provide education to patients in the management of their feeding tube. I also change RIG tubes and help trouble shoot any difficulties that patients or their carers may be having with their RIG.”
Testimonial from Senior Dietitian in Narcolepsy
“I have been a member of the Clinical Nutrition Department at St. James’s Hospital since 2018. As Ireland’s largest academic teaching hospital, I have been provided with exceptional opportunities to develop within my profession. The wide range of clinical specialities and broad expertise in our department ensures you always feel supported to ask questions and develop your clinical knowledge in a team environment. Our commitment to training student dietitians has embedded a culture of proactively identifying teaching moments to enhance dietetic expertise and strive for clinical excellence.”
Testimonial from a Basic Grade Dietitian in Upper GI Surgery
“I have been working in SJH for over two years now and I am currently working in Upper GI surgery. During my two years in SJH I have had the opportunity to complete several rotations including endocrinology, ortho vascular, general medicine and infectious diseases. Through each rotation I have had support from seniors and Clinical Specialist in each of these areas which has allowed me to develop my dietetic knowledge. The department is a great place to work, everyone is friendly and inconclusive.”
As part of the Clinical Nutrition Department there are different committees and working groups established which aim to improve the quality of care, we provide our patients but also to improve the quality of the work life balance for Dietitians in St. James’s. As part of SCOPe directorate our values our outlined below.
The social and wellbeing committee within the department is responsible for planning and organising events, activities and trips for the department to enjoy. It is a fun and exciting group to be a part of, with a mission to get people together and take a well-deserved break from all the hard work they do. Sometimes even working across multiple departments in the hospital to bring colleagues together, they have masterfully hosted a wide range of events from pub quizzes and hikes to bake-offs and sweep stakes. The committee is also involved in charity work and helps support local charities through donation drives and fundraisers.
- A hike organised by the health, wellbeing and social committee in Ticknock
We pride ourselves in fostering an environment that supports and encourages audit, research and innovation within clinical practice. We have an active clinical nutrition research and innovation committee within our department and staff are supported to participate in further learning such as masters’ programmes/diplomas and attend conferences.
Each year we gather as a department for our Research Showcase, featuring oral presentations to recognise and celebrate research and audit undertaken by SJH dietitians.
Many staff members have published in peer reviewed journals and/or presented their nationally and internationally (listed below).
Peer Reviewed Publication 2021 - 2024
Conference Posters/Presentations 2021-2024
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.