A NATIONAL campaign spotlighting the role of dietitians is being supported by staff at Airedale Hospital.

A display is being staged – on the landing above the main hospital entrance – as part of Dietitians Week, which runs until tomorrow.

It includes British Dietetic Association advice about diets to help with depression, pregnancy and the menopause, skin complaints and arthritis.

Patients are referred to Airedale's dietetic service by health practitioners including doctors, nurses and consultants.

Common conditions it can help with include diabetes, food allergies and intolerance, bowel disorders and coeliac disease.

Assistance is also given to people with liver, renal and heart disease, and those struggling to lose weight or to eat nutritious food.

Katherine Jones, dietetics service manager and professional lead at Airedale NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Choosing the right person to seek help and advice from can sometimes be a confusing task. Many people claim to be experts in nutrition yet have very limited knowledge and offer no protection to the public.

“We are a reliable and unbiased source for people wanting information about food and nutrition.

“It is very easy to be misled by people who claim to be nutrition experts or nutritional therapists but have no training or scientific background. This can lead people to follow dietary advice which is not based on evidence and to possibly end up taking expensive and unnecessary supplements.”

For more information, visit bda.uk.com or trustadietitian.co.uk for further information.