West Essex Children’s Dietetic Service

We are the provider for the NHS children’s community Paedatric service in West Essex which includes Harlow, Epping and Uttlesford District.

This specialist service is provided by a Paediatric dietitian that works two and a half days per week. The service accepts referrals from GP’s for children and young people with a wide range of special dietary needs and uses up to date knowledge and evidence- based practice to support them to ensure expected growth and development.
The Dietitian is able to offer practical guidance to help children and their families make appropriate food and lifestyle choices and manage dietary changes for

Constipation
Faltering Growth,
Suspected or identified nutritional deficiencies,
Suspected or diagnosed food allergies (e.g. coeliac disease or diagnosed non-IgE mediated allergies only) or
Strategies to help to expand the range of a fussy/Selective eater.

More Information

Information for referrers

Referral Criteria

Faltering Growth
Nutritional Deficiency (e.g. Anaemia/Vit D)
Non-IgE allergy (cow’s milk/egg)
Fussy Eating/Feeding Problems
Confirmed Diagnosis of Coeliac Disease (Annual Review only)
Constipation

Please Note: Children with Dysphagia MUST have had an assessment by Feeding Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

Referrals to the Community Paediatric dietitian can be made by filling out the referral form

Final New Dietetic Referral form

Please note that we do not accept referrals for

Weight Management, these children should be referred to Essex Wellbeing Service
Eating Disorders (including Anorexia, Bulimia, Extreme food phobia and Avoidance Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID). Refer to SET CAMHS (NELFT) they provide Eating Disorders Service and offer a service for Children with ARFID aged 8-18 years. Website: nelft.nhs

Useful Resources

The following organisations can provide some support while you are waiting to see a dietitian:

For weaning advice and nutrition for under 5 years you can access
Eating Well resources — Eating Well resources — First Steps Nutrition Trust for comprehensive dietary information on starting solids, vegan diets, including a wide range of recipes.

Toddler and Infant Nutrition Advice: Infant and Toddler Forum provides a wealth of information for both health care professionals and parents on everything from weaning, fussy eating, constipation, portion sizes and many more.

Children’s Healthy Eating information can be found at Better Health and Healthy eating for children BDA Food Facts Healthy Eating for Children.

For information and support with constipation check out ERIC (Children’s bowels and Bladder Charity)

For Allergy Information, please check out the Community Allergy Service pages, information can also be found at Allergy UK, and British Dietetic Association (BDA) have a Food Facts leaflet on Allergy Testing and which are valid and which are not.

Here are some Food Allergy in Children webinars designed to help parents navigate milk free and/or soya free diets. Food Allergy in Children (Webinars)

Coeliac UK provide information and recipes for those with coeliac disease. Here are some Coeliac UK Digital resources that talk you through coeliac disease, the gluten free diet, reading food labels and cooking and eating out on a gluten free diet.