editorial

welcome to issue 55

Neil Donnelly - Dietetic Services Manager NHD editor

It was at a recent meeting of our Joint Negotiat-

ing and Consultative Committee that I first realised the potential implications of the current financial situation on my role and those of my dietetic colleagues within my acute Hospital Foundation Trust and Primary Care Trust. As a Trust we have to make dras- tic cuts in our pay budget to the tune of 8.2 million pounds this financial year and every Foundation Trust, it seems, has to make a similar saving in line with its budget.

Many suggestions as to how we achieve this have been muted. No pay rise for two years, including a freeze on any incremen- tal pay points you may be due. The length of time your pay is protected for, should your position in the Trust change, may be reduced. Even redundancy and the introduction of a voluntary severance scheme have been proposed. Of particular interest is the transfer of community based

staff employed by a PCT to an acute Trust. This is as a result of the Department of health ‘Transforming Community Services’ guidance 2009 and PCTs in future solely being commissioners of services. This is likely to take affect by April 2011 and could have major implications on the transfer of community dietetic staff to acute Trusts and their subsequent management. Dietitians should be aware that in many regions, posts are now being advertised on the NHS jobs website initially only within their own locality for two weeks, then within their region for a further two weeks and finally, if not filled by either of the above, advertised on an open competition basis. For the first time in my life, apart from my professional asso- ciation, I shall be joining a Trade Union. It is called Managers in Partnership, specifically for managers in the health service. It seems that our BDA membership, which includes a trade

union arm, has difficulty in meeting quickly the needs of local situations. This is easy to understand with the increasing demands placed on dietitians who take on a voluntary trade union role for the BDA having to prioritise their clinical role in the Trust. Keeping up to date with your own position and the potential problems you are likely to encounter nowadays requires a depth of readily available knowledge and support from someone fully involved in union activities and dealing with the local situation. That is why I am making this move and I would simply suggest that dietitians may want to investigate their current trade union support and reassure themselves that particularly in this current economic climate that they have prompt access to the local information and support they feel they may need.

June’s issue of NHD is, once again, jam-packed with informa-

tive features and essential resources. Turn to page 9 for Nigel Den- by’s review of Commercial slimming groups and how they meet ‘best practice’ guidelines. Dr Justine Butler tackles the complex issue of Soya and breast cancer starting on page 12, while our leading Clinical section delves into Coeliac disease (pg 25) and the cost effectiveness of Sip feeds in elderly care homes. Enjoy the read!

Neil is a Fellow of the BDA and Dietetic Services Manager in Blackpool. His main areas of interest are weight management and eating disorders

contents

4 News with Dr Carrie Ruxton

5 Product news

6 Look out: was Florence Nightingale

the first dietitian? by Ursula Arens

9

COVER STORY

Commercial slimming groups

by Nigel Denby

12 Soya & breast cancer

by Justine Butler

14

Bone health part 2 by Alison Shepherd

19 The science of taste

by Dr Carrie Ruxton

23 25

28

NHD Clinical editor: Chris Rudd

Coeliac disease:

what you need to know

by Fiona Moor

Sip feeds: a subject for

debate? by Alison Smith

31 PKU watch: case study - PKU & non-dietary treatments

by Dr Anita MacDonald and Shauna Kearney

33 Case study: weight loss & disordered

eating behaviour by Kate Harrod-Wild

34 35 36

Into research: by Dr Amelia Lake

dieteticJOBS

Courses & events

34 Day in the life of . . . Ishana Maharaj, Dietetic Manager, Durban

Cover photos: istockphoto.com

NHD is printed on EMAS approved paper (chlorine free and from sustainable forest re-growth)

Editor

Network Health Dietitians is published by NH Publishing Ltd UK Company No. 05432911

Suite 1 Freshfield Hall, The Square, Lewes Road Forest Row, East Sussex RH18 5ES Phone 0845 450 2125 (local call rate) Skype - NHDmag Fax 0870 762 3713

Email info@networkhealthgroup.co.uk

www.NHDmag.com www.dieteticJOBS.co.uk

Features editor

Neil Donnelly RD FBDA Ursula Arens RD

NHD Clinical editor Chris Rudd RD Design Sales

Publisher

Heather Dewhurst

Richard Mair richard@networkhealthgroup.co.uk 0845 450 2125 (local call rate) Geoff Weate

Publishing Assistant Lisa Jackson

All rights reserved. Errors and omissions are not the responsibility of the publishers or the editorial staff. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the publisher or the editorial staff. Unless specifically stated, goods and/or services are not formally endorsed by NH Publishing Ltd which does not guarantee or endorse or accept any liability for any goods, services and/or job roles featured in this publica- tion. Contributions and letters are welcome. Please email only to info@networkhealthgroup.co.uk and include daytime contact phone number for verification purposes. Unless previously agreed all unsolicited contributions will not receive payment if published. All paid and unpaid submissions may be edited for space, taste and style reasons.

NHDmag.com June '10 - issue 55

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