Dietetics and nutrition — Auckland (North and West)
Dietitians are part of multidisciplinary teams that work patients, alongside their whānau and caregivers, who require nutrition input related to medical and surgical treatments and management of chronic conditions.
Dietitians
A dietitian is an expert in nutrition. Dietitians provide treatment, education and support if you need nutrition information and advice relating to a medical and surgical treatment. They can also help you manage chronic diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure.
A dietitian uses scientific knowledge about food and nutrition to promote the best health outcomes.
Dietitians and nutritionists are different. A dietitian is also a nutritionist. Dietitians are highly qualified in clinical and medical nutrition and so can manage the nutritional care of people with a health condition, as well as healthy people.
Find out more about the dietitian services we offer below.
Dietetic and nutrition services in North and West Auckland, including Rodney (Health NZ Waitematā)
Where to find us
North Shore Hospital
124 Shakespeare Road
Takapuna
Auckland
Waitākere Hospital
55 Lincoln Road
Henderson
Auckland
Wilson Centre
1 St Leonards Road
Takapuna
Auckland
Services we provide
Paediatric outpatient dietitians provide nutrition support to tamariki and rangatahi referred to clinic and who are able to travel with their whānau member or care provider to a clinic. Clinics are booked in advance and are held at venues as close to home as possible, including North Shore Hospital, Waitākere Hospital, New Lynn Clinic and Hibiscus Coast Community Centre.
The dietitian will ask for consent to provide dietetic assessment and education to support tamariki referred, their whānau and caregivers.
Consultations are done by telehealth (phone or video calls), or in-person depending on the service required.
Assessment
The dietitian will:
- read the medical notes of your tamaiti and check their blood results
- assess length, weight and head or waist circumference of your tamaiti
- ask questions about the feeding and food intake, meal patterns and daily routines to develop a feeding plan or make recommendations around food choices and lifestyle of your tamaiti.
Education
The dietitian will:
- work with you and your whānau to set goals towards feeding support and growth
- explain any recommendations made and why they are needed
- provide information or a feeding plan to take away.
Support
The dietitian will:
- provide follow-up appointments as required
- reassess your medical and nutrition status, food choices and changes made
- talk to you and your whānau about other groups and health professionals that can provide ongoing support when you no longer need to be seen by the dietitian
- offer nutrition education and follow up care as required.
What you need to do
You will need to:
- work alongside the dietitian to achieve the individual feeding or nutrition goals for your tamaiti
- asking about things that you do not understand
- trying the changes that are suggested by the dietitian
- telling us about how the changes are going and if you are managing them
- telling us if you have difficulty understanding the written or spoken information.
Referral information
During a hospital stay, your tamaiti may be referred to the dietitian by hospital staff. Referrals will be prioritised and responded to according to our guidelines. The dietitian will aim to acknowledge referrals within 24 hours of receipt.
Contact us
Contact the paediatric outpatient dietetic service on 09 486 8920 extension 47155.
They are available between 8:30am and 4pm.
Where to find us
North Shore Hospital
124 Shakespeare Road
Takapuna
Auckland
Waitākere Hospital
55 Lincoln Road
Henderson
Auckland
Totara Health Centre
Level 2, 1 McCrae Way
New Lynn
Auckland
Hibiscus Coast Community Health Centre
136 Whangaparāoa Road
Red Beach
Auckland
Services we provide
Paediatric outpatient dietitians provide nutrition support to tamariki and rangatahi referred to clinic and who are able to travel with their whānau member or care provider to a clinic. Clinics are booked in advance and are held at venues as close to home as possible, including North Shore Hospital, Waitākere Hospital, New Lynn Clinic and Hibiscus Coast Community Centre.
The dietitian will ask for consent to provide dietetic assessment and education to support tamariki referred, their whānau and caregivers.
Consultations are done by telehealth (phone or video calls), or in-person depending on the service required.
Assessment
The dietitian will:
- read the medical notes of your tamaiti and check their blood results
- assess length, weight and head or waist circumference of your tamaiti
- ask questions about the feeding and food intake, meal patterns and daily routines to develop a feeding plan or make recommendations around food choices and lifestyle of your tamaiti.
Education
The dietitian will:
- work with you and your whānau to set goals towards feeding support and growth
- explain any recommendations made and why they are needed
- provide information or a feeding plan to take away.
Support
The dietitian will:
- provide follow-up appointments as required
- reassess your medical and nutrition status, food choices and changes made
- talk to you and your whānau about other groups and health professionals that can provide ongoing support when you no longer need to be seen by the dietitian
- offer nutrition education and follow up care as required.
What you need to do
You will need to:
- work alongside the dietitian to achieve the individual feeding or nutrition goals for your tamaiti
- asking about things that you do not understand
- trying the changes that are suggested by the dietitian
- telling us about how the changes are going and if you are managing them
- telling us if you have difficulty understanding the written or spoken information.
Referral information
Referrals are accepted from Health NZ healthcare professionals and independent midwives. Tamariki referred must be able to travel to a clinic appointment with a whānau member or carer.
Direct referrals from private healthcare professionals are not accepted, unless the tamaiti is diagnosed with coeliac disease. Tamariki should be assessed by their main healthcare provider and referred to a Health NZ paediatrician to be considered for any other dietitian outpatient clinic services.
Community child health dietitians work as part of the Child health team. They provide nutrition support to tamariki and rangatahi. Care can be provided at:
- their home
- their school
- the Wilson Centre respite care wards
- regional clinics.
For more information go to our Community child health page.
Contact us
Contact the adult inpatient dietetic service on 09 486 1491 extension 43556.
Where to find us
North Shore Hospital
124 Shakespeare Road
Takapuna
Auckland
Waitākere Hospital
55 Lincoln Road
Henderson
Auckland
Mason Clinic
UNITEC Gate 2
Carrington Road
Point Chevalier
Auckland
Services we provide
Inpatient dietitians see people who require nutrition input while they are admitted to North Shore and Waitākere hospitals or the Mason Clinic. There are a number of reasons a person may be referred to the dietitian including:
- unintentional weight loss or malnutrition
- chronic wounds
- tube feeding
- liver failure
- gastrointestinal surgery.
Referral information
Referrals can come from Health NZ staff. Referrals are prioritised and responded to according to our guidelines. The dietitian will aim to acknowledge referrals within 3 working days.
Contact us
Contact the Adult community dietetic service on 09 486 8945 extension 43222.
They are available between 8am and 4:30pm, Monday to Friday.
Where to find us
North Shore Hospital
124 Shakespeare Road
Takapuna
Auckland
Waitākere Hospital
55 Lincoln Road
Henderson
Auckland
Hibiscus Coast Community Health Centre
136 Whangaparāoa Road
Red Beach
Auckland
Services we provide
Working as part of a multidisciplinary team, the community dietitian’s role includes:
- home enteral nutrition monitoring including transition to oral feeding
- monitoring 'failure to thrive' in adults who have unintentional weight loss
- providing dietary advice and support to patients with terminal and palliative conditions, where that service cannot be provided by other health professionals
- providing advice and support to patients at nutritional risk who are unable to attend an outpatient clinic because of their medical condition
- consultations will be conducted in-person at the patients home or online using Telehealth (phone or video calls)
Referral information
We accept self-referrals, as well as referrals from:
- whānau
- your main healthcare provider
- other healthcare professionals involved in your care.
Contact us
Contact the Adult outpatient dietetic service on 09 486 1491 extension 43556.
Where to find us
North Shore Hospital
124 Shakespeare Road
Takapuna
Auckland
Waitākere Hospital
55 Lincoln Road
Henderson
Auckland
Hibiscus Coast Community Health Centre
136 Whangaparāoa Road
Red Beach
Auckland
Services we provide
Outpatient services
Some people require ongoing nutrition input either in the community or after they are discharged from hospital. One or more clinic appointments with the dietitian may be appropriate. A variety of clinics are offered, including the following specialist areas:
- gastrointestinal issues
- allergies
- intolerances
- inflammatory bowel disease
- malnutrition
- general weight management (please note a Health at Every Size approach with behaviour modification for positive relationships with food is offered via group sessions)
- bariatric surgery (via Surgical Services Bariatric Service for weight loss)
- general surgery
- renal.
Clinics are available at North Shore and Waitakere hospitals, and Hibiscus Coast Community Centre. Appointments may be done in-person or using Telehealth (phone and video calls).
Renal outpatient services
If you have kidney disease you may be referred to a renal dietitian who works as part of the Renal team. You will be seen in an outpatient clinic or on the haemodialysis unit at North Shore or Waitakere hospitals. We aim to link our clinic appointments with the renal doctors when able. You will also be followed up routinely on peritoneal dialysis.
Food can play an important role in keeping healthy when you have kidney disease. There is not one renal diet for everyone. The dietitian will assess your needs and provide you with specific information as required.
Diabetes outpatient services
Diabetes services — Auckland (North and West)
Referral information
Outpatient services
Referrals are accepted from all Health NZ healthcare professionals. Your main healthcare provider can also refer you to a dietetic outpatient clinic for advice about:
- malnutrition or high risk of malnutrition
- gastrointestinal disorders including newly diagnosed eosinophilic oesophagitis
- weight concern
- maternity.
Renal outpatient services
Referrals are accepted from all Health NZ healthcare professionals if you are under the care of the renal doctors.
You must give your consent to attend an outpatient clinic for follow-up. If you require a translator, request this before the day of your appointment.
Diabetes outpatient services
Diabetes services — Auckland (North and West)
Dietetic education
Go to our dietetic education page if you have been sent an invite to a group education class or an online programme.
- Eating for your health
- Functional gastrointestinal disorder programme
- Bariatric dietetics