Nutrition

The Intestinal Failure and Nutrition team are based at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital (Wonford). We manage the care of patients with a range of complex nutritional needs. There are two forms of nutrition support the team can provide: enteral nutrition (EN) or parenteral nutrition (PN).

Enteral support is the use of feeding tubes placed directly into the gut. This can help patients who have had a stroke or to support patients during cancer treatment. Parenteral nutrition is where artificial nutrition is given directly into a vein, bypassing the gut. This can support patients who can't absorb enough energy from their gut, because of an obstruction or inflammation.

Information and about us

There are several forms of enteral nutrition, including nasogastric feeding (NG) and percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) feeding. Our team will assess the suitability of these tubes for each patient and arrange its placement. We also offer an advice and guidance service for patients experiencing difficulties with these tubes. Any issues related to the feed used down the tubes will be managed by our dietetic colleagues.

Patients under the care of the head and neck team might need an enteral tube placed. This is called a radiologically inserted gastrostomy (RIG) tube. The placement of this will be organised by the head and neck team. The Intestinal Failure and Nutrition team will review the patient afterwards to provide support and training. These patients can also access advice and guidance once they leave hospital.

Parenteral fed patients are looked after by our Intestinal Failure and Nutrition team, plus the patient's surgical or medical team.

We assess patients and their nutritional needs on a daily basis. We are responsible for prescribing the nutrition and ensuring your body can access it.

We also look after some patients at home, ensuring their nutritional needs are met.

Contact us

The team is available Monday-Friday, 8am-6pm. Our phone number is: 01392 404635

There is an answer phone and messages are checked three times a day, with the last one being at 4pm. Any messages left after 4pm will be dealt with the next working day. After 4pm, the team work on the wards to help facilitate the administration of the nutrition.

Alternatively we can be contacted on: rduh.NSTadmin@nhs.net

Where to find us

Northern Services

North Devon District Hospital 

North Devon District Hospital

Raleigh Park

Barnstaple

Devon

EX31 4JB

Your healthcare professional will advise where your appointment will take place. Your appointment may take place at one of our outpatient clinics situated within our main hospital sites or within the community.

Eastern services

Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital (Wonford) 

Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital (Wonford)

Barrack Road

Exeter

EX2 5DW

Endoscopy: Level 2, Area N

Okement Ward: Level 2, Area F

Clinics: Level 1, Area D

 

Community

For enterally fed patients, the team work closely with the community dietitians and the Fresenius Kabi nurses, who will see patients in their home environment.

Our team also works with several home care companies who provide nursing staff to help look after patients with parenteral nutrition in their own home.

Clinics

There are two weekly clinics run by the nurses and dietitian. Alongside these, there are two consultant led clinics a month.

Meet the team

The nutrition team is made up of consultants, nurses, dietitians and pharmacists:

  • Dr Chris Calvert, Consultant Gastroenterologist
  • Prof Tariq Ahmad, Consultant Gastroenterologist
  • Dr John Rogers, Consultant Gastroenterologist
  • Beth Thompson, Dietitian
  • Claire Elworthy, Pharmacist
  • Georgie Adams, Senior Clinical Nurse Specialist 
  • Julian Hindle, Clinical Nurse Specialist
  • June Hampton, Clinical Nurse Specialist and Nurse Endoscopist

Supporting you

Along with the other hospitals in the area, the team are active members of the charity PINNT (Patients on Intravenous and Nasogastric Therapy) and organise patient support groups twice a year. We also work closely with the team from Talking Health, Devon Partnership NHS Trust to make sure our patients’ psychological needs are met.

Services and treatments

For outpatient referrals, please do the following:

  • Enteral nutrition: GPs can send correspondence via a letter or email containing information about the latest Dietetic and Speech and Language assessments. The email address for this is: rduh.feedingissuesmdt@nhs.net.
  • Parenteral nutrition: Please send correspondence addressed to one of the consultants and the dietitian.

Patient information leaflets

We produce a wide range of leaflets which provide information about our services and about the treatment you might receive in our clinics or during your stay in hospital. 

We also produce these in different formats including large print, please contact the department you are visiting for more information.

Find out more

Last updated: March 03, 2023.