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A systematic review of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) found that dietitians in primary care were effective at improving diabetes control, achieving reductions in weight and waist circumference, as well as enhancing overall diet quality
Supervised use of total diet replacement in primary care settings has been shown to be an effective approach for achieving significant weight loss in patients
Diabetes prevention programmes that focus on lifestyle interventions, particularly those delivered by dietitians, are effective at reducing body weight and blood glucose levels, with dietitian-led programmes showing greater weight loss outcomes

What the Primary Care Dietitian can do for you

As healthcare shifts its focus from secondary to primary care, general practitioners (GPs) are increasingly managing patients with complex and multiple chronic conditions. In the past, these patients would have received treatment in a hospital setting. Registered dietitians play a crucial role in the treatment of these conditions, helping patients effectively manage their diseases at home through personalised nutrition therapy and education
Patients who effectively manage their chronic conditions at home often report improved quality of life and higher satisfaction with their GP services. Self-management can empower patients and lead to better health outcomes
Registered dietitians are trained in behaviour modification and motivational interviewing. This empowers patients to self-manage chronic conditions like obesity, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. Personalised nutrition therapy and education provided by dietitians significantly improve clinical outcomes

Dietetic services can reduce the demand on GP time, allowing GPs to focus on other patient needs
Patients with undiagnosed IBS see GPs 10 times more frequently than matched patients, with one in 12 GP consultations being for gastro symptoms, 46% of which are diagnosed as IBS (NICE, 2017). A new IBS pathway for a dietetic-led gastro clinic has demonstrated that dietitians can reduce symptoms (and therefore reasons to see the GP) in 70% of patients (Williams, 2013)
Advanced dietitians trained as supplementary prescribers can provide comprehensive primary care diabetic services, including dietary, lifestyle, and medication modifications. This reduces the need for patients to see their GP for insulin and antidiabetic agent adjustments
Dietitians are effective at obesity management, with a meta-analysis showing they achieve better weight loss results compared to non-dietitians
The "Focus on Undernutrition" dietetic program in County Durham has demonstrated that dietitians can reduce the incidence of pressure sores in nursing home and community patients by appropriately treating malnutrition

As part of the 'NHS Making Every Contact Count initiative', dietitians are utilising every opportunity to have healthy conversations with patients, promoting positive lifestyle changes
In primary care, dietitians play a crucial role in working with pregnant mothers. NICE recommends that dietitians provide evidence-based dietary advice to improve long-term health outcomes for both mothers and children. Furthermore, NICE suggests that women with a BMI of 30 or above should be offered a referral to a dietitian at their booking appointment

A primary care dietetic-led clinic for patients with IBS demonstrated improvements in overall symptoms and quality of life in 70% of their patients (Thompson, 2000). The clinic also led to a 5% reduction in new outpatient slots in secondary care, resulting in cost savings of £102,000 per annum