Who we are

Name:Deborah Kirby Job Title: Lead Dietitian

Department:Argyll & Bute CHP, NHSHighland

  1. Picture.

This team picture shows our 7 dietitians and 3 support workers – some are ‘real’pictured in Helensburgh, the rest are seen ‘virtually’ in Bute, Lochgilphead and Oban. I’m the blonde on the table!

  1. Who am I?

Although, clinically, I cover the area of Cowal and Bute, in a leadership role I shape and lead the nutrition and dietetic service across Argyll and Bute,a beautiful, remote part of Scotland located due west of Glasgow stretching from Loch Lomond, north to Oban and south to Machrihanish. Working here feels as though I am on holiday all the time….until I see my never ending email inbox!

I feel privileged being allowed to work in this role, establishing a serviceto meet the health needs of the local population with the support ofthededicated and conscientious dietetic team. It is a time of change – driven by government challenges to meet targets such as those for child health; diabetes, but by using evidence based therapies we will do our best to accomplish our mission!

  1. What do I do? Describe your role?

Our roles are wide and variable. We work in mental health, learning disabilities, community, acute settings and public health.

We often work as integral members of multi-disciplinary teams to treat complex clinical conditions such as diabetes, food allergy and intolerance, IBS syndrome, eating disorders, chronic fatigue, malnutrition, kidney failure and bowel disorders.

Wework in collaboration with caterers, ward staff, speech and language therapists within the hospital setting to ensure the nutritional care of our clients; we provide supportin other care settings such as nursing homes, social services and with the education servicesin planning and implementing public health programmes promoting health to prevent nutrition related diseases.

We run individual sessions, plus groups with physiotherapists, to support clients in making lifestyle behaviour changes around eating and activity. And a key role of a dietitian is to train and educate other health and social care workers. In all of these areas, we are supported by a very competent and caring team of dietetic support workers.

  1. Why is this role important?

Choosing the right person to seek help and advice from can sometimes be a confusing task. Many people claim to be experts in nutrition yet have very limited knowledge and offer no protection to the public.Dietitians are the ‘Gold Standard’ when it comes to nutrition and food professionals.

Registered Dietitians (RDs) are the only qualified health professionals that assess, diagnose and treat dietary and nutritional problems at an individual and wider public health level. They work with both healthy and sick people.

Uniquely, dietitians use the most up-to-date public health and scientific research on food, health and disease which they translate into practical guidance to enable people to make appropriate lifestyle and food choices. Dietitians are also the only nutrition professionals to be regulated by law, and are governed by an ethical code to ensure that they always work to the highest standard.

  1. Most challenging part of my job?

Argyll and Bute allegedly has a coastline of3,723 kilometres (2,313 miles). So travelling from one area to another is far more elaborate than travelling as the crow flies! But whilst trying to give all our clients equity of access to our service, we try to incorporate technology to save some miles, such as video-conferencing.

The remoteness of the area doesn’t mean less variety of illnesses and problems, and although we are often classed as ‘generic’, we have to be knowledgeable in all specialism’s.

  1. Most interesting part of my job?

The most challenging part of our jobs is probably also our most interesting!Ferry hopping is a daily occurrence for some of us, and gives us an opportunity to be mindful of our surroundings and appreciate the magnificent mountain scenery and stunning sea views.

Our clients are always happy to see us and are appreciative that we try very hard to support them within the comfort of their home or area. This minimise’s their lengthy travel into the city. And although these clients may have been receiving a highly specialised treatment in the larger hospitals, our challenge as community dietitians is to be able to support old and young, sick and healthy in the heart of their community.

  1. What qualifications do I need?

To become a Dietitian, the minimum requirement is a BSc Hons in Dietetics, or a related science degree with a postgraduate diploma or higher degree in Dietetics. Dietetic courses include subjects such as: biochemistry, physiology, applied sciences and research methods which underpin evidence upon which nutrition and dietetics is based. These are complemented by social and behavioural sciences and the theories of communication to support the skills required for dietetic practice.

All courses require a period of supervised practice including NHS settings, where an individual must demonstrate clinical and professional competence before being eligible to apply for registration. In Argyll and Bute CHP, we support Dietetic students from all over the country and they spend a period of time in each location, covering many specialist and generic areas.

The British Dietetic Association (BDA) is the professional body and Trade Union for dietitians and is also responsible for designing the curriculum for the profession. Our team work with NES as advisors to help shape the dietetic service nationally for service users, and within universities to shape student training.

  1. Who do I get in touch with if I want to find out more?

For those wanting to learn more about dietetics, please contact us on:

 or go onto the British Dietetic Association website

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