When to Refer to a Dietitian in Primary Care: Example Inclusion & Exclusion Criteria
Find out which patients benefit most from dietitian support in primary care, and how our service helps PCNs manage nutrition-related conditions safely and effectively.
Topic
Primary Care
Published on
September 2, 2026
Supporting Better Nutrition in Primary Care
Nutrition plays a vital role in preventing and managing long-term health conditions. By embedding dietitians into primary care networks, practices can improve patient outcomes, reduce prescribing pressures, and ensure patients receive the right support at the right time.
To make referrals clear and efficient, our dietitians follow an inclusion and exclusion framework. This ensures patients receive appropriate care and, where necessary, are directed to specialist services.
This is usually tailored to the PCN and their local population, and we work with the dietitian to develop this criteria.
Example Conditions Suitable for Dietitian Input in Primary Care
Our dietitians can provide assessment, tailored advice, and ongoing support for patients with:
Weight management (unless already active with a Specialist Weight Management Service or Digital Weight Management Programme)
Fertility (nutrition support and weight management)
Unexplained weight loss
Malnutrition
Oral nutritional supplement assessments
General nutritional status reviews
Food sensitivities or intolerances
Functional gut symptoms: diarrhoea, constipation, bloating, distension
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Pre-diabetes and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Paediatrics (1–18 years). Our dietitians can also liaise with GPs to support parents and children under 1 with probable Cow’s Milk Protein Allergy.
Conditions Not Covered by Dietitian
Some patients are best supported by specialist or secondary care services. We will redirect referrals if patients:
Do not want to be seen by a dietitian
Meet criteria for an existing commissioned dietitian service and have not declined it
Have Type 1 Diabetes (should access DAFNE or specialist diabetes centre input)
Are already under secondary care/community dietitian or diabetes education programme
Are in Specialist Weight Management Service programmes
Have diagnosed eating disorders (under specialist team)
Require enteral feeding
Require home visits
Why This Matters for PCNs and ICBs
Having clear criteria protects both patients and clinicians. It ensures:
Patients get the right level of care at the right time
Primary care clinicians know when to refer and when to redirect
Commissioners can see the scope of practice for dietitians within their service
Our team works closely with GPs, nurses, and pharmacists to provide practical, evidence-based nutrition support in primary care settings.
📩 Ready to bring a dietitian into your PCN or ICB?
We help reduce prescribing costs, improve patient outcomes, and provide a joined-up approach to long-term condition management.
Get in touch to learn more about how we can support!
Who are Primary Care Dietitians?
Primary Care Dietitians is England's leading independent provider of specialist dietitians for Primary Care Networks. We partner with 300+ GP practices to deliver evidence-based nutrition care that improves patient outcomes, reduces prescribing costs and eases pressure on GPs.
.svg)
.png)