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Adult Clinics & Appointments

Getting an appointment with a dietitian

There are many reasons why an appointment with a community dietitian may be necessary. Below is a list of some of the reasons why you may be referred to see a dietitian in a clinic.

Food allergy or intolerance including Coeliac Disease
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Crohn’s Disease & Ulcerative Colitis
Diabetes
Obesity
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)
Low weight or poor nutrition
Heart Disease, including high blood pressure

Most people are referred to see a community dietitian by their nurse or doctor; however any health professional you see may make the referral, with your permission. We are also developing a new service for patients to self-refer in some instances. In the meantime, if you would like to be seen by a community dietitian but don’t know how, please contact us.

Once you have been referred we will contact you within 48 hours of receiving the referral and ask you to choose where and when you would like to be seen. In some cases we send a letter instead, offering you an appointment at the clinic closest to your home address. If at this stage you no longer want to be seen, please let us know and we will inform the person who referred you. We aim for all patients to have their first appointment within 5 weeks of being referred. You are welcome to bring someone with you to the appointment and an interpreter will be arranged for you where necessary. To download our Patient Information leaflet click here.

What to expect at your appointment

The first appointment will last between 30 and 45 minutes and we will spend that time agreeing how best we can help you. If necessary we can then see you for a course of sessions so that we can help you to achieve set goals/follow a treatment plan. Most patients attend 2 or 3 appointments but some will have 6 sessions over several months. After your first appointment we will send a letter to your GP and the person who referred you. The next time we write to your referrer is usually when you have been discharged, although sometimes we will inform them of how things are going in between.

What to do if you can’t make it

Every month, between 15 and 30 hours of clinic time are wasted when patients don’t come for their appointment, and don’t let us know in advance. If you can let us know as soon as possible when you can’t make it, we may be able to use your slot for another patient. This also helps to keep our waiting times low, as unused clinic slots mean everyone else has to wait longer for an appointment.

Being discharged

Being discharged means that you are no longer a patient under the care of the Community Nutrition & Dietetic Service. There are a number of occasions when you will be discharged and it does not always mean we will not see you again. For example, if you do not respond to our letter inviting you to call and choose when and where you would like your first appointment we will discharge you. If you miss an appointment without letting us know or if you have completed your treatment with us, we will discharge you. Once discharged you may be able to re-refer yourself. If in doubt please contact us and we can advise.

Where our clinics take place

We hold clinics in a wide variety of places all across Birmingham including local health centres and Doctors surgeries. When you receive an appointment letter it will include full details of the clinic you have chosen or been allocated. All our clinics are fully accessible.

If your letter did not include a map, you can download a map for the following clinic locations by clicking on each one below (listed in alphabetical order):

All Saints Medical Centre, Kings Heath

Allens Croft Children’s Centre, Brandwood

Aston Health Centre, Aston

Birmingham Children’s Centre, Bacchus Road, Winson Green

Balsall Heath Health Centre, Balsall Heath

Broadmeadow Health Centre, Kings Norton

Charlotte Road Health Centre, Stirchley

Church Lane Clinic, Kitts Green

Dove Primary Care Centre, Erdington

Fernbank Medical Centre, Alum Rock

Greet Health Centre, Sparkhill

Harvey Road Clinic, Yardley