Our Dietitians

Dietary Advice and Support

 

As part of the 2 year aftercare package we provide monthly consultations with a dietitian, either at one of our nationwide clinics, or over the phone if that is more convenient. We can arrange more frequent consultations depending on your requirements. Our dietitiians will discuss food choices with you, suggest new things to try, advise on supplements, share different recipes, and tips on eating and digesting your food in the best way possible.

 

Opting to have a gastric band or a gastric bypass is a huge decision and a big lifestyle change. As an organisation we understand it is no quick fix and this is why we believe offering dietitian support is crucial to helping you and your weight-loss. They will offer dietary advice and talk to you on a professional and personal level about food and nutrition and the part in plays in helping you achieve your goal weight.

 

After you are discharged from hospital we will give you a food diary for you to note down what food and drink you have consumed per day and allows you to keep a log of exactly what you have eaten that day and that week. There is also a space for exercise undertaken so you can include that in your diary too. Your dietitian will discuss your food diary with you in greater detail.

 

Fitness and Exercise Advice

 

Not only will our dietitians talk to you about food, nutrition and working with the your weight-loss surgery procedure. They will also talk to you about exercise and ways in which this can be incorporated into your new lifestyle. This will increase your fitness levels and along with the kickstart of the band, bypass or balloon, and the new and controlled diet will help you to be an all round healthier person - which is our goal as well as yours!

 

 We are starting to introduce our new fitness packs which means all of our obesity surgery patients will receive a water bottle, a pedometer and a rucksack to keep them both in!

 

Our Team of Dietitians

 

We currently have 6 dietitians working in the UK and helping patients each day with their dietary needs. They are:

 

• Cirian-Marie Beddoes - Head of Weight Management Services (HPC DT06926)

 

Qualifications

·        Post Graduate Diploma in Public Health (Masters Programme) 2006/7

·        Certificate in Weight Management (WMC) 2007            

·        Post Graduate Diploma in Nutritional Medicine (Masters Programme) 1999

·        BSc (Hons) Nutrition & Dietetics Leeds Metropolitan University (2:1) 1997

 

Profile

 

I joined the Hospital Group in March 09 with the sole purpose of building an expert team and a quality aftercare service. Within the past 6 months we have increased our team by a further 4 dietitians and a Dietetic Assistant to further support patient enquiries and overall customer care. Our clinic coverage across the UK has increased from 17% to 100% which means all of our clients across the UK have access to a face to face appointment by our expert team. My passion is obesity and lifestyle management I am an active practitioner of NLP and CBT and focus our team on not just the dietary aspects of obesity but often more importantly the mental aspects to ensure sustainable change not quick fix. I have worked within both the NHS and private sector, always in obesity and have also had the pleasure of being a director of my own company to open up the UKs First Children's Health Club. This job has provided me with the challenge of ensuring our aftercare is befitting of a specialist provider of bariatric and weight management services and I am very proud of how our achievements to date.

 

• Louise Maxwell - Lead Bariatric Dietitian (London and the South) HPC DT08085

 

Qualifications

• Nutrition & Dietetics (BSc Hons)

• Cognitive Behavioural Approaches in Obesity Management 2002
• Outpatient Treatment of Eating Disorders - CBT Approaches 2003
• Foundation Certificate in Food Hygiene 2006
• Clinical responsibility Course (2005)
• Skills for running groups Course (2005)
• Fundamental Skills for Success course (2005)
• Nutritional and Health Show (2005)
• 8th London International Eating Disorders Conference (2007)

 

Profile:

I have worked with the Hospital Group now for over 12 months and I am the Lead Bariatric Dietitian. I have seen a great many changes within the team and the past 6 months we have really moved forward with building a professional and expert team. I am a highly motivated and enthusiastic Dietitian who is interested in obesity management. I have worked previously as a specialist eating disorders Dietitian in a multi disciplinary team for 6 years prior to THG. 

I possess excellent counselling and motivation skills. I use such skills to treat obese binge eating disorder patients both individually and in a group setting to manage their symptoms.

 

 

 

• Charlotte Harper (Scotland and the North) HPC: DT25408

 

Qualifications

 

• Nutrition & Dietetics (BSc Hons)                                                                

 

Profile

I graduated as a Dietitian from Chester University. I moved from an alternative provider of Bariatric where I had worked in a strategic position since graduation. I am excited to be part of this growing team and look forward to the challenges and successes in front of us.   I’m a very upbeat person with a positive mentality. I am enthusiastic, responsible and motivated and I work hard to achieve my goals and persevere to succeed, which is reflected through my academic and personnel development progress. I am trustworthy, understanding and have a sensible attitude, portrayed by my professional appearance. I am continuing my professional development with a Post Graduate Diploma in Sport and Exercise Nutrition due to start in October. This is a part-time course through Coventry University, of which I will study in hand with my Dietetic career.

 

• Michelle Toland (Northern Ireland) HPC : DT07047

 

 Qualifications

• Post Registration Course in Eating Disorders British Dietetic Association.
• Further and Adult Education Certificate (FAETC)Stage 1 1997
• Post Graduate Diploma in Human Nutrition and Dietetics 1997
• Masters of Research in Human Nutrition (MRes) 1996
• BSc Hons Degree in Human Nutrition with Diploma in Industrial Studies(DIS).
• BTEC HND in Applied Biology. Pass with Merit.

 

 Profile

I joined the Hospital Group following a move back to Belfast and am already enjoying the development aspect of the role and the 'team' that we are building. My background is varied I have worked as a Dietitian in the NHS and the private consultancy arena for 11 years. Although I have held varying clinical Dietetic roles, I have spent the last 5 years working as a Chief Dietetic Manager. Weight Management has always been a clinical interest in my career as it influences so many clinical conditions and I have a great deal of experience in this area.

My approach is very much based in thorough dietetic assessment followed by goal attainment via behaviour modification encouraged in a motivational style of interviewing. My experience means that I am very skilled at these techniques having a good rapport with patients which is more conducive to successful outcomes. It was whilst working in Portsmouth that I gained my Bariatric Surgery experience. There I worked with the Chief Dietitian and a leading surgeon to provide a dietetic service to patients undergoing gastric bypass and banding surgery at King Edwards Hospital, Midhurst. 

 

• Jodie Owen (Midlands) HPC: DT17922

 

Qualifications

• Diabetes Management, Warwick University, April 2008
• DAFNE Educators Course November 2007
• EXPERT Diabetes Management, July 2007
• BSC (Hons) Dietetics 2:1, Coventry University, July 2002

 

Profile

 

I recently joined the Hospital Group as a Specialist Bariatric Dietitian. I am a highly motivated Dietitian with extensive experience in weight management with special interest in Obesity & Diabetes. I am trained and experienced in using Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) techniques to achieve long-term lifestyle change in patients and have lots of success within the field of obesity & lifestyle change. I have excellent communication skills and I enjoy working with people from a variety of age groups and cultures, demonstrating empathy and a non judgemental attitude.

A variety of experience in different areas and enjoy new challenges.

 

• Kelly Guthrie (Midlands and Newcastle) HPC: DT09151

 

Qualifications

 

• Foundation Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for General Health (Level 2) 2007
• Designing and Managing Research Projects (level 4) 2007
• Nutrition & Dietetics (Bsc Hons) 2:1 2002

 

Profile

 

I am an enthusiastic and driven Dietitian experienced in all aspects of the patient journey for the obese surgical patient. I have a keen interest in eating behaviours and patterns and have a formal qualification in Cognitive Behaviour Change which enables me to not only manage patients nutritional needs but also address some of their mental health needs. I have worked with THG for over a year now and have a varied client group. As part of the aftercare team we are constantly striving to ensure we provide patients with regular and consistent support to ensure a good and successful relationship is built which invariably supports our patient outcomes.

 

All of our dietitians are registered members of the British Dietetic Association (BDA). This is extremely important and conveys that a dietitian has a right to hold the title on paper as well as in practice. A "dietitian" is the only nutritional professional who is statutorily regulated and governed by ethical code to ensure the advice received is of the highest standard and quality.