Who can get an NHS dietician appointment?

[bookeater]

I am having a bad time with IBS constipation I paid last year to see a private dietician who helps but I have gone backward again. (Paid a lot of money)

I requested a referral via the GP to see someone, his email reply was he will refer me but he is not sure they will see me as they have strict criteria?

the steam is now coming out of my ears ... what criteria?

I sent him the link to the updated

British Society of Gastroenterology guidelines on the management of irritable bowel syndrome

saying it was a recommendation.

I have just had a reply from the GP saying it is what is commissioned in the locality.

[ClareLou]

The way some parts of the NHS now work is that services are commissioned by the CCGs as part of this process the provider has criteria of what they will and won’t provide and who they will see and won’t. The issue with this is you can find a post code lottery where in some places the criteria is very very different.

You could contact the provided of the service and ask what the criteria is and check if your GP has include all the relevant information. They should be able to share that with you. If they won’t you could make a freedom of information request for the information.

I have been seen by an NHS dietitian for my IBS and found it really helpful so I hope you are able to as well.

Good luck.

[Hidden]

I've reluctantly booked a private dietitian appointment. I saw an NHS dietitian in March, a half hour appointment over video, in which she very quickly went through my diet, said she didn't know what was causing my problems and discharged me. My impression was the NHS doesn't have the time or resources to properly look at gastro issues that are probably quite complex.

[Smeese]

Also still waiting for a NHS appointment and it has now been nearly six months. I saw a private nutritionist a while ago so I have the basics in place, but I wanted an update on re-introducing things and a few problems I was having with the limitations of my diet and worries about deficiencies. I've just had to do my own research and trial and error which is hardly ideal. I will now look for another private nutritionist who specializes and will have to pay again. I am fortunate that I can just about afford to do it but I am resentful of having to use my own limited funds. This is tough for those who can't and also wasteful as it could actually save the NHS some money if patients had reliable information to help themselves.

[Orchid99 in reply to Smeese]

I have managed to be seen by a dietitian for my slow transit colon but then I'm very underweight because of it and can hardly eat, I dropped a lot of weight over 6 months and am In alot of pain and discomfort with it. I've also developed a fear of foods because of the pain. But even with that the dietitian so far has just prescribed nutritional drinks but no advice or guidance on diet, I have an appointment in a couple of weeks so i hope I will get dietry advice then. This is my second dietitian as I moved gastro's, the first one just told me to eat more and would not prescribe extra nutrition...easier said then done when your in discomfort everyday. It seems you have to shout as loud as you can to get anywhere at the moment, it's very frustrating. I developed neutropenia since my tummy troubles started and I have no idea why, i was referred to hematology and they said they won't see me because my white cells are not rock bottom even though they are consistently low. I can't believe it has to get that bad in order to have it looked at.

[Smeese in reply to Orchid99]

Expert advice would be best but you would be safe'ish with the Low Fodmap diet which might allay some of your fears. It cuts out the worst of the culprits for digestive/gut issues so at least you could eat something while you are waiting for proper advice. The majority of Gastro people recommend it. Go have a look at the Monash Low Fodmap website as it is the safest source of information. I'm so sorry you are going through this - you should have had better advice in the beginning so that you could be helping yourself. I am not in any way qualified to advise you so can only share my own experience - the safest thing I have found for soluble fibre to help with transit is just basic milled psyllium husk - taken one teaspoon stirred in a glass of water - everything else seems to upset my very delicate balance.

[Orchid99 in reply to Smeese]

Unfortunately I've been stuck on the elimination phase of the low fodmap diet for a year, its messed me up and given me dysbiosis, this is also why I'm having trouble eating foods, wish I had never done it but then I didn't know it was slow transit causing the problems at that time, I thought I had ibs d.

[Readmeastory in reply to Orchid99]

I was exactly the same lost over 2stones in 6months and dieticians was nice but only said high fibre and gave me the drinks . Once my weight got to 51 kilos and it stayed the lockdown and nothing since . So now I don’t no high fibre or low fibre . To be honest I don’t think they no as all I hear is everyone is different .

[Viklou]

GP's tend to only refer to a dietician if it's life or death. Ideally you need your GP to refer you to a Gastroenterologist and they can subsequently refer you to a hospital dietician. Sadly the demands on this service are heavy and therefore waiting times can be 12 months. Good luck with that one xxx

[bookeater]

Thanks for everyone's replies. I spent a lot of money on a dietician last year and was left to do the FODMAP reintroduction on my own! Which has not really worked well. She only books 3 monthly sessions which as we all know is a lot of money. She was very good but considering she could have factored in a follow-up...

I have listened to/ watched a number of information sessions that were organized by the IBS Network with dieticians talking about their role in helping IBS sufferers.

The Gastro team who did all the hospital tests couldn't wait to get rid of me. It was the start of COVID and had a phone appointment, with a dr who spoke too fast I could just about understand him. He talked about a medication I could go on, when I asked him if he could repeat the name so I could write it down all he said was all information would go to my Dr. He was not the consultant that I had seen previously.