Dietitians in the Southern Health and Social Care Trust are delivering more specialist care in patients' homes and GP surgeries, reducing the need for hospital appointments.

The trust's Home Enteral Tube Feeding service now supports more than 120 adults to manage tube feeding safely at home. Launched in 2008, it was the first of its kind in Northern Ireland. The team works with community nursing, dietetic and learning disability colleagues to provide consistent care outside hospital.

Coordinators Ashleigh Nelson and Rachel Wright said a central part of their role is helping patients and carers gain confidence with tube feeding. They provide advice, training and ongoing support. The service also schedules routine replacement of gastrostomy feeding tubes every three to four months at home, which they said helps prevent infections, leakage and dislodgement while avoiding hospital trips.

The trust stated that patients and carers value having a named contact and local specialist support.

Separately, a pilot Advanced Practice Dietitian role based in GP practices in Portadown is offering earlier assessment for patients with lower gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhoea and constipation. Liz O'Connor, the Advanced Practice Dietitian, said the post allows symptoms to be managed quickly through clinical assessment, investigations and first-line dietary advice, helping patients avoid the need for more complex interventions later.

Head of Dietetics Mandy Gilmore said the services demonstrate the vital role dietetic teams play in supporting patients and families daily. She added that delivering care in the community improves patient experience and helps people maintain independence while receiving care close to home.