Nutrition & Food Services

About Nutrition & Food Services

The Department of Nutrition & Food Services at the Royal Children's Hospital provides a dietetic service to all inpatient units and to specialist outpatient clinics. A limited service is available to general outpatients (no referrals are accepted from outside the hospital).

Dietitians are university qualified specialists in the area of nutrition and its role in health and disease. The Dietitians at the Royal Children's Hospital are available to consult on all aspects of infant and child nutrition including assessment, recommendations for nutritional management and implementation of therapeutic diets within the hospital. Dietitians can discuss nutritional needs for the home with the family and can provide education on normal nutrition and any modifications that may be needed for special diets.

RCH Dietitians also work as consultants providing nutition information to both hospital staff and groups outside the hospital such as community groups, parents and other professionals.

Basic information about infant and child nutrition, including composition of the commonly used formulae is contained in the Paediatric Handbook. Further details on infant formulae are available on request.

How to see a dietitian at RCH for general concerns (other than overweight)

Public Outpatient Service

Referral from an RCH Doctor required for appointment. There is no charge for this service.

Private service (Children's Nutrition Consultants)

Referral from your own Doctor or parents/carers can contact the Nutrition Department and request an appointment.
Costs for private services are as recommended by the Dietitian's Association of Australia.
Rebates are possible for private services from most private health funds under 'Special Extras' cover.

Last Updated 26-Jun-2009. Authorised by: . Enquiries: .