Dietetics

Contact Us

Mater Private Hospital, Eccles Street, Dublin 7, D07 WKW8 01 885 8229 ereferrals@materprivate.ie

Please note that a referral letter is required before an appointment can be confirmed.

Mater Private Hospital, Citygate, Mahon, Cork 021 601 3200 cork@materprivate.ie

Please note that a referral letter is required before an appointment can be confirmed.

Mid-Western Radiation Oncology Centre, University Hospital Limerick, Dooradoyle, Limerick 061 425 901 niamh.corkery@materprivate.ie

Please note that a referral letter is required before an appointment can be confirmed.

Useful Information

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Further Information

Dietetics service in Mater Private Dublin and Mater Private Cork

Dietetics is concerned with the diet and its effects on our health.

We offer a comprehensive inpatient dietetic service to patients referred by consultants and general practitioners. Good nutrition is a vital part of recovery from illness, especially after having surgery or if you have been unwell before your admission. In Dublin we also offer an outpatient service with outpatient referrals taken for a number of conditions such as:

  • Weight management
  • Coronary heart disease
  • Diabetes
  • Coeliac condition
  • Gastrointestinal disorders
  • Irritable bowel syndrome
  • High cholesterol
  • Hypertension
  • Cardiovascular health

Patients referred to us are individually assessed and will receive appropriate dietary advice tailored to their own needs. Patients are also advised about the diet changes they need to make to maintain good health. Any advice given will be communicated to your referring GP so that they are aware of it. Follow-up appointments are arranged as required.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) 

IBS is thought to affect ten to fifteen percent of the population. We provide a service that will guide you through the low FODMAP diet, proven to provide symptom relief in many patients.

Coeliac disease 

Following a diagnosis of coeliac disease, it is important to adhere to a strict gluten-free diet. Education on both gluten-containing and gluten-free foods is important in order to guide and support patients in managing their diagnosis. 

Inflammatory bowel disease 

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease are at increased risk of malnutrition, particularly during periods of active disease. We will support the patient in treating and preventing disease-related malnutrition and provide additional guidance around expanding the diet during remission.

  • Full dietetic assessments, taking into account your nutrition and medical history.
  • Receive appropriate dietary advice tailored to your needs.
  • A patient-centred service, delivered in a trustworthy and friendly environment.

Clinical nutrition and dietetics  - Radiotherapy Limerick

Mater Private's Satellite Radiotherapy Centre in Limerick has an oncology dietitian who is available to see all patients on treatment. This can be arranged by asking one of the radiation therapists, nurses or doctors to refer you. An oncology dietitian specialises in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer related nutritional impact symptoms. 

Depending on the type of cancer that you have and the treatment site, you may experience side effects such as loss of appetite, nausea, taste changes, diarrhoea, constipation, pain on eating, swallowing difficulties which can put you at risk of losing weight.

The aim of our dietetic service is to minimise weight loss and to maximise nutritional status as much as possible both pre, during and post treatment to prevent any potential missed treatments and to help the recovery process.

  • Patients who are receiving external beam radiotherapy and who are experiencing unintentional weight loss and/or nutritional impact symptoms
  • Cancer can occur anywhere in the body and there are many different forms. Each type of cancer will have a unique effect on the body and will cause different symptoms and the treatment can cause different side effects.
  • We know that eating a well-balanced diet during cancer treatment is essential. This is research driven and we know that weight loss caused during cancer treatment can reduce a person’s response to treatment and cause more treatment related side effects and impact a person’s quality of life and survival. 
  • A diet rich in energy (calories) and protein can help to prevent weight loss and promote healing and recovery post treatment.
  • We know that patients who remain weight stable during treatment do much better.
  • This can be a difficult task and this is where your dietitian can help you.
  • A detailed nutritional assessment which includes your medical history, biochemistry, medications of dietetic relevance, physical factors that impact your nutritional intake, anthropometry and calculation of your estimated nutritional requirements and a detailed diet history.
  • A nutritional diagnosis will be made.
  • A dietetic care plan will be agreed with you, including verbal and written tailored dietary information specific to your needs.

Nourish Cookbook

Eating well during radiotherapy treatment for cancer needn’t be a chore and it is a vitally important part of ensuring good treatment outcomes for patients. That is precisely why the dietetics team at Mater Private Network’s Mid-Western Radiation Oncology Centre in Limerick have released the Nourish Cookbook.

  Download Nourish Cookbook (pdf) | 5.48MB