# Dietitian Jobs in the NHS

> NHS dietitian job landing page from Job Clerk.

## Canonical URLs

- **HTML:** https://www.jobclerk.com/jobs/dietitian
- **Markdown:** https://www.jobclerk.com/jobs/dietitian.md

## Live Market Snapshot

- **Live vacancies:** 79
- **NHS employers:** 62
- **New vacancies this week:** 32
- **Observed salary range:** GBP 21,297 to GBP 65,261

## Role Summary

NHS dietitians assess nutritional needs and plan dietary interventions for patients with conditions ranging from diabetes and renal disease to eating disorders and critical illness. Most posts sit in acute hospital teams or community services, with specialist roles in areas like oncology, paediatrics, and gastroenterology. Dietitians enter at Band 5 and can progress to highly specialist and consultant roles.

## Typical Responsibilities

- Managing enteral feeding (NG, NJ, PEG) and parenteral nutrition referrals
- Specialist dietary management for complex conditions (renal, hepatology, critical care)
- Malnutrition screening, MUST scoring, and nutrition support ward rounds
- Supervising dietetic assistants and students on placement
- Outpatient clinic management for long-term conditions (diabetes, IBD, allergy)
- Clinical audit, outcome measurement, and guideline development
- Food service and menu planning liaison (for catering-facing roles)

## Typical Requirements

- HCPC registration as a dietitian
- Subspecialty experience relevant to the post (oncology, paediatrics, renal, etc.)
- Supplementary or independent prescribing (for advanced roles)
- BDA membership (recommended but not essential)

## Employers Hiring

- Elysium Healthcare (5 jobs)
- University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust (3 jobs)
- Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust (2 jobs)
- Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust (2 jobs)
- University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust (2 jobs)
- South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust (2 jobs)
- Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (2 jobs)
- NHS Forth Valley (2 jobs)

## Locations Hiring

- London, London (10 jobs)
- Leeds, North East and Yorkshire (4 jobs)
- Southampton, South East (3 jobs)
- Hertfordshire, East of England (2 jobs)
- Aylesbury, South East (2 jobs)
- Dartford, South East (2 jobs)
- Croydon, London (2 jobs)
- Derby, Midlands (2 jobs)
- Warwick, Midlands (2 jobs)
- Cross Site, East of England (1 jobs)
- Stoke-on-Trent, Midlands (1 jobs)
- Cramlington, North East and Yorkshire (1 jobs)

## FAQs

### What qualifications do I need to become an NHS dietitian?

You need a degree in dietetics approved by the HCPC and registration with HCPC. Most NHS dietitian roles start at Band 5 for newly qualified practitioners.

### What areas can NHS dietitians specialise in?

NHS dietitians can specialise in areas including oncology, paediatrics, gastroenterology, diabetes, renal, eating disorders, critical care, and community nutrition. Advanced roles develop expertise in specific patient populations.

### How much do NHS dietitians earn?

Under the 2026/27 pay scale, NHS dietitians start at Band 5 (approximately £32,000-£39,000), with specialist roles at Band 6 (£40,000-£48,000), senior specialists at Band 7 (£49,000-£57,000), and consultant dietitians at Band 8 (£58,000+).

### What career progression is available for NHS dietitians?

NHS dietitians can progress from Band 5 to specialist, highly specialist, advanced practitioner, and consultant roles. Management pathways include team lead and head of dietetics.

### Do NHS dietitians manage tube feeding and IV nutrition?

Yes. Hospital dietitians often manage enteral nutrition (tube feeding via nasogastric or PEG tubes) and contribute to parenteral nutrition (IV feeding) decisions for patients who cannot eat or absorb food normally. This is a significant part of acute and critical care dietetics. Newly qualified dietitians typically receive training in these areas during rotational posts, but some adverts list enteral feeding experience as essential.

### What is the difference between a dietitian and a nutritionist in the NHS?

Dietitian is a legally protected title requiring HCPC registration and an approved degree. Only dietitians can provide medical nutrition therapy in the NHS. Nutritionist is not a protected title in the UK and does not require HCPC registration. NHS dietitian posts always require HCPC registration; job adverts using the title nutritionist without HCPC registration are not dietetic roles.

## Agent Notes

- This Markdown page is generated from the same Job Clerk SEO landing-page data as the HTML page.
- Use the canonical HTML URL for user-facing references.
- Live job counts change as source NHS adverts open and close.