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Dietetics and Food Service Department

Overview

The Department of Dietetics and Food Service is responsible for providing a comprehensive dietetic and food service to patients of the Townsville Hospital and dietetic services to the remaining Townsville Health Service District including Parklands Nursing Home, Palm Island, North Ward renal satellite unit and surrounding areas of North Queensland (via outreach renal services).  An outreach service is also supplied to Charters Towers including The Charters Towers Hospital, Eventide Nursing Home and Charters Towers Rehabilitation Unit.  Mater Misericordiae Hospital's Food Service Department contracts services from the Townsville Hospital Dietetics Department. 

The Food Service Department provides a range of nutritious, safe & hygienic food to The Townsville Hospital, which complies with Queensland Health and Australia & New Zealand Food Authority guidelines.  The Food Services Department comprises of a centralized kitchen, plating area and dish washing facility.  This department consists of approximately 60 staff members.

Contact Details

Location	Allied Health, Level 1, A Block, The Townsville Hospital, 100 Angus Smith Drive, Douglas QLD 4814
Postal Address	IMB 1, PO Box 670, Townsville QLD 4810
Phone Numbers	Dietetics  07 4433 2370 Food Service 07 4433 1194
Fax Number	07 4433 2371
Hours	Dietitian hours Monday to Friday 0800 -1630hrs No service available on weekends or public holidays For Christmas and Easter 4 day weekends a dietitian will be on call for one nominated day Food Service hours 0600-2000 seven days a week

Dietetic Services Provided

The Dietetics Department provide service to both inpatients and outpatients.

Referrals for weight reduction counselling and type 2 diabetes may be forwarded to community health for therapy outside the acute setting, or for group education.

Examples of appropriate referrals include:

Malnourished or at Risk Unintentional weight loss Poor oral intake Feeding difficulties Diarrhoea or constipation TPN – total parenteral nutrition Risk of pressure areas & ulcers Hypermetabolism Long term texture/fluid modified diet Eating disorders or disordered eating Special diet restrictions Other Unstable diabetes Not coping at home with meals, budget, preparation CMP – stroke, cardiac, #NOF Poor growth Altered gut function Special diet education Surgical Wards Hypermetabolism ie stress, fractures CMP – stroke, cardiac, #NOF Gastro surgery Risk of pressure areas & pressure ulcers Gallstones Oncology Poor appetite Hypermetabolism BMT mucositis Liquid diets TPN

Renal Dialysis patients Unstable electrolytes Malnutrition Medical New Type I Diabetes Mellitus Liver disease IBD Diverticular disease Pancreatitis Cerebral Palsy Paediatric Ward Failure to thrive Feeding difficulties Allergies and intolerances Cystic fibrosis Cancer treatment Enteral and parenteral feeding Cardiac High blood lipids Hypertension Heart Disease Orthopaedic Physiotherapy Screening Clinic (OPSC) OPSC patients can be referred to the OPSC dietitian and are seen within OP clinics

Role of the Dietitian

• Nutritional assessment
  • Anthropometry, biochemistry, clinical factors, diet history
• Nutrition interventions
  • Provision of oral nutrition support, enteral feeding, total parenteral nutrition, therapeutic diets and dietary education
• Follow-up
  • Referral of community health dietitian, discharge arrangements, handover to ward dietitian upon transfer of ward, home enteral nutrition, TTH dietetic outpatient clinics
• Education of staff members

Referral Sources

• Medical Staff
• Nursing Staff
• Other Allied Health Professionals
• General practitioners

Referral Procedures

Inpatient referrals

• contact ward dietitian
• telephone 4433 2950
• please include:
  • patient name & bed number
  • presenting condition
  • reason for referral
  

Outpatient referrals:

• complete blue referral form and forward to Allied Health Department 
• Phone 4433 2370 Fax 4433 2371 (adult appointments)
• Phone 4433 2150 (Paediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynaecology outpatients)
• GPs – referral letter to Dietetics Department to include;
  • patient name
  • presenting condition
  • reason for referral 

Contact Us

 

Position	Phone	Fax
Dietetic Department - Reception	443 32950	443 32371
Community Dietitians	4799 9500	4799 9501
Dietetics Deputy Director	443 32968	443 32371
Dietetics Director	443 32952	443 32371
Integrated Health Care Partnership Dietitian	4789 9167	4789 9185
Older Persons Allied Health Team	4799 9070	-
Renal Dietitian - CKD (North Ward Campus)	0429 632 261	4729 9341
Renal Outreach Dietitian	0408 181 384	4729 9341