Nutrition and Dietetics

The dietetic services provided by the Nutrition and Dietetics Department are mainly focused on supporting the care of our patients in the hospital within multidisciplinary teams. The nutrition therapy provided is dependent on the patient’s medical conditions, nutrition issues, and the nature and complexity of care required.

Any healthcare professionals can identify and suggest patient to the doctor for a dietitian referral. Only the doctor can raise a referral to the dietitian.

Upon referral, the dietitian will perform an initial nutritional assessment and derive a nutrition care plan based on the diagnosed nutrition issues. Patient and/or family/caregiver will also receive nutrition education and/or counselling, where indicated, based on the individual nutritional care plan to meet the nutritional goals.

Patient’s nutritional progress will be monitored, and reassessed at regular intervals, to meet the individualised nutritional goals. Inpatients requiring outpatient follow-up after discharge will be given outpatient dietitian appointments. If patient is discharged to an intermediate or long term care facility, a memorandum on the nutritional care plan will be provided.

We assist patients with the following conditions:

Our dietitians also support and promote the health of the community we serve through the various ways:

• Provide nutrition and dietetics consultation and services to intermediate and long-term care institutions
• Conduct nutrition talks and workshops for patients/caregivers, public, and corporate partners
• Organise and support nutrition-related health events for our staff, patients and public to promote the importance of good nutrition in disease prevention and management

Some dietitians within the team also serve as food service consultants. They are involved in guidelines development for hospital therapeutic diets and work closely with Food and Beverage Services to ensure diet provision caters to different medical conditions and nutritional needs of patients.

The department supports healthcare education in both local and overseas educational institutions through providing the various opportunities:

• Structured clinical placements for Singaporean dietetics students studying overseas
• Food service internships for local and overseas Singaporean students
• Industry attachments and final year projects for food science and nutrition students from local polytechnics
• Research projects for undergraduate and postgraduate dietetics students
• Observational attachments for Dietitians/undergraduate dietetics students
• Nutrition lectures for healthcare professionals or students

Dietitians are involved in research to support evidence-based practice. Relevant nutrition and dietetics related projects are planned, collaborated, facilitated and conducted to enhance patient care and service delivery.