First reported 6 Nov 2018•Latest report 3 Jun 2024
Definition
What this concern includes
Includes recurring deficiencies in dietetic staffing numbers, skill mix, recruitment, retention, deployment or cover where they delay dietetic assessment, leave dietetic needs unmet or prevent required weekday, weekend or out-of-hours dietetic provision.
Not included
Excludes general healthcare staffing shortages where dietetic staffing or dietetic care is not the identified unsafe condition.
Excludes failures in dietetic assessment quality, referral, communication or treatment where staffing capacity is not the shared cause or condition.
Excludes shortages in other specialist services, including radiology, mental health, nursing or social care, unless the assertion explicitly concerns dietetic staffing capacity.
Excludes isolated staff absence or a single missed assessment where no continuing dietetic staffing-capacity deficiency is asserted.
Reports
3
Distinct published reports
Individual concerns
3
A report can raise multiple concerns
Date range
2018–2024
First to latest report issue date
Stated actions
19
Described in published responses
Reports over time
Reports over time
Reports about this concern issued each year.
* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.
Most frequent recipients
Most frequent recipients
Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.
Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust1
Frimley Park Hospital1
Glangwili General Hospital1
Stockport NHS Foundation Trust1
NHS trust2
Healthcare site1
Multi-service care provider1
Concerns and responses across reports
Only concerns grouped under this recurring concern are included. Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.
Surrey
Concerns raised1
Insufficient staffing in the dietetics department to address patients' dietetic needs
This report raised 4 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.3
Action
Review therapy directorate demand and capacity and compile a dietetics staffing proposal.
Stated by Frimley Health NHS Foundation TrustStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 6 June 2024.
Action
Move dietetics resource from Wexham Park Hospital to Frimley Park Hospital to meet higher acute-team demand.
Stated by Frimley Health NHS Foundation TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 6 June 2024.
Action
Participate in the national dietetics staffing benchmarking programme and submit Trust data.
Stated by Frimley Health NHS Foundation TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 6 June 2024.
Manchester South
Concerns raised1
Residual staffing shortages in the dietetic team
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.12
Action
Conduct twice-daily senior-dietitian triage and prioritise referrals using referral criteria and clinical judgement.
Stated by Stockport NHS Foundation TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 28 June 2021.
Action
Provide weekend out-of-hours enteral and parenteral feeding guidance to ensure patients receive appropriate nutrition pending dietetic review.
Stated by Stockport NHS Foundation TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 28 June 2021.
Action
Use a streamlined referral spreadsheet recording assessment due dates, follow-up review dates and review reasons.
Stated by Stockport NHS Foundation TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 28 June 2021.
Action
Allocate highest-priority new and follow-up patients to available staff under senior-dietitian oversight.
Stated by Stockport NHS Foundation TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 28 June 2021.
Action
Review dietetic staffing risks monthly through divisional governance and the Risk Management Committee.
Stated by Stockport NHS Foundation TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 28 June 2021.
Action
Develop and progress a business case for increased nutrition and dietetic staffing through Trust governance.
Stated by Stockport NHS Foundation TrustStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 28 June 2021.
Action
Recruit to additional nutrition and dietetic posts to address identified staffing needs.
Stated by Stockport NHS Foundation TrustStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 28 June 2021.
Action
Complete a dietitian job-planning exercise and benchmark staffing against British Dietetic Association recommendations.
Stated by Stockport NHS Foundation TrustStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 28 June 2021.
Action
Review the skill mix and examine non-registered staff roles and responsibilities.
Stated by Stockport NHS Foundation TrustStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 28 June 2021.
Action
Combine community and acute nutrition and dietetic staffing establishments to enable flexible cross-service working.
Stated by Stockport NHS Foundation TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 28 June 2021.
Action
Combine specialist acute caseloads and prioritise them across the service.
Stated by Stockport NHS Foundation TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 28 June 2021.
Action
Monitor caseloads regularly to ensure patients are prioritised and seen within appropriate timescales.
Stated by Stockport NHS Foundation TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 28 June 2021.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.2
Position
The dietetic service cannot provide seven-day cover because it is not commissioned to operate seven days.
Stated by Stockport NHS Foundation TrustUnable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.
Position
Existing out-of-hours guidance is considered sufficient to ensure appropriate nutrition and prevent weekend delays without routine dietetic review.
Stated by Stockport NHS Foundation TrustExisting arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire
Concerns raised1
Insufficient staffing of the acute dietetic service for timely referral response
This report raised 3 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.4
Action
Recruit substantive staff to fill acute dietetic vacancies while continuing efforts to maintain service capacity.
Stated by Hywel Dda University LHBStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 18 March 2019.
Action
Use locum dietetic staff to support acute service capacity while substantive recruitment continues.
Stated by Hywel Dda University LHBStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 18 March 2019.
Action
Prioritise high-risk patients for rapid dietetic referral and initiate an enhanced ward-based nutritional care pathway during staffing shortages.
Stated by Hywel Dda University LHBStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 18 March 2019.
Action
Propose increased acute dietetic establishment through additional registered dietitians and unregistered dietetic support workers.
Stated by Hywel Dda University LHBStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 18 March 2019.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Position
Low numbers of suitable applicants have prevented recruitment and adequate locum cover for acute dietetic vacancies, limiting staffing capacity.
Stated by Hywel Dda University LHBUnable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.
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Includes recurring deficiencies in dietetic staffing numbers, skill mix, recruitment, retention, deployment or cover where they delay dietetic assessment, leave dietetic needs unmet or prevent required weekday, weekend or out-of-hours dietetic provision.
