Seeing a Dietitian in the UK: Do You Need a Referral, NHS or Private?

The British Dietetic Association (BDA) lists these reasons to see a dietitian: you or someone you care for needs to regain weight after ill-health or because of a medical condition; you want or need to lose weight safely and sensibly; you have symptoms of a food allergy or intolerance; you have problems feeding your baby or child; you have digestive problems or coeliac disease; or you have a medical condition such as diabetes, high blood pressure or cardiovascular disease. Source: BDA: how can a dietitian help you?.

See also our guides on IBS and dietitians, fussy eating in children and swallowing problems.

The BDA says that when you visit your GP practice you should tell the receptionist or your GP that you would like to see a dietitian. NHS dietetic services are run locally. Local service pages we read on 5 November 2026 say they accept referrals from GPs and other healthcare professionals and that referral criteria vary depending on where you live, so waiting times and who can be seen differ by area. Ask your GP surgery which service covers you and how to be referred. Some services also see people under a hospital team or in a care home.

If you want to be seen sooner or choose who you see, you can see a private dietitian without a referral. The BDA has a find a dietitian search of freelance dietitians that lets you search by location, filter by clinical expertise (for example diabetes, gut health and digestive conditions, food allergy and intolerance, or children's and early years nutrition) and choose telephone, in-person, home visit or online sessions. Not every dietitian is listed there, and you can check any dietitian on the HCPC register.

Dietitian is a protected title: anyone using it must be on the HCPC register. Other titles, such as nutritionist, are not protected in the same way; see dietitian or nutritionist: what is the difference?

• Are you on the HCPC register? What is your registration number?
• What is your experience with my condition or my child's needs?
• What will the first appointment involve, how long is it and what does it cost?
• How many sessions might I need, and how will we review progress?
• Will you write to my GP or other professionals involved in my care, if I agree?

Do not make big changes to your diet, or cut out food groups, if you have a medical condition, are pregnant, are underweight or are caring for a child without advice from a registered health professional. If you or someone you care for may have an eating disorder, see a GP and read our eating disorder guide.

• Speech and language therapists assess and treat swallowing and feeding difficulties.
• Occupational therapists can help with eating equipment, seating and routines.
• Practitioner psychologists, counsellors and psychotherapists can support you with the emotional side of eating, body image and food worries.

Whoever you choose, check their register (the HCPC register for occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, dietitians and physiotherapists) and ask about fees, session length and what progress will look like. See questions to ask a private allied health professional. On Therapist Circle, each practitioner's registration is checked when they join, and their profile shows the register and number so you can check it yourself.