Dietitians Awareness Week 2020 – meet the team

Posted 1st June 2020

Monday 1st June marks Dietitians Week, an annual celebration to highlight the work dietitians, dietetics and those that support them do. Taking place from 1st – 5th June, the British Dietetic Association (BDA) campaign for this year is ‘#WhatDietitiansDo’ – shining a spotlight on the diversity of the dietetic sector.

Here at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre we have a team of 8 Dietitians and a Dietetic Assistant working as part of our wider Cancer Rehabilitation and Support Team (CReST) to provide specialised support and education to our patients. Dietitians offer the most credible sources of information about food and drink and provide rehabilitation to people who have been unwell. Support from a Dietitian can provide symptom relief, reduce further illness and prevent admissions to hospital.

On Dietitians Awareness Week, we’re giving you the opportunity to meet some of our Dietitian Team and find out how and why they joined the profession:

Rachel – Macmillan Oncology Dietitian

Rachel graduated with PgDip Dietetics from King’s College London in 2016 after having previously studied biology and gained a masters in nutrition. As a Dietitian Rachel has worked across numerous large teaching hospitals in London within a variety of medical specialities. At The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, Rachel works predominately with our Upper Gastrointestinal (UGI) patients, both inpatients and outpatients. She is also on the Medical Advisory Board for Ovacome, an ovarian cancer charity.




Lauren - Lead HPB / UGI Oncology Dietitian

Lauren qualified from the University of Chester in 2013 with a BSc degree in Nutrition Dietetics. After working as an Acute Dietitian within various hospitals covering a wide range of specialities Lauren moved to The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre in 2015 to specialise in oncology. At The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre Lauren is our Clinical Lead Dietitian for Upper Gastrointestinal (UGI) and Hepato-Pancreatico-Biliary (HPB) cancers. Lauren is also the student lead dietitian for trainees who undertake placements at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre. She also often writes for a number of Nutrition and Dietetic magazines on various dietetic topics and has been shortlisted for CN writer of the year for 2020.



Fiona - Macmillan Oncology Dietitian

Fiona has had a varied career since graduating from Queen Margaret College Edinburgh in 1984- working in general hospitals, community dietetics and a cardiothoracic centre. She joined our team here at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre in 2009. Last year Fiona presented a poster with colleague Kathryn Parr, at BAPEN (British Association Parenteral Enteral Nutrition) held in Belfast. This was to promote a project on early dietetic intervention in patients attending for treatment to head and neck tumours which resulted in reduced patient admissions and cost savings to the Trust.




Charis – Macmillan Oncology Dietitian

Charis graduated from Leeds Beckett University in 2015 with BSc (Hons) Dietetics and began working at James Cook University Hospital where she covered respiratory, spinal cord injuries, cardiac intensive care unit, haematology and general oncology. In September 2016 Charis joined The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre Team and works with our head and neck cancer patients. She is currently a committee member of the British Dietetic Association (BDA) Oncology Group Head and Neck Sub Committee.





Natalie - Macmillan Oncology Dietitian

Natalie became interested in nutrition in healthcare when studying for her undergraduate degree in Sport and Exercise Science and went on to study a Masters in Human Nutrition prior to gaining a PGDip in Dietetics. Natalie has gained experience working in a number of areas within dietetics throughout her seven year career. Over this time she has developed a passion for the role of dietetics in oncology and helping patients optimise their nutrition when they are experiencing treatment side effects - all whilst getting to know our patients during their time at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre.



John – Dietetic Assistant

John has been working as a Dietetic Assistant at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre since September 2019. Before joining The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre John gained a BSc (Hons) degree in Nutrition and Health and developed an interest and passion for clinical nutrition. He has been enjoying learning from all the Dietitians in the team to develop his knowledge further within the interesting field and profession.


Our Dietitian Team is managed by the fantastic leadership team:

  • Pam Richardson - Dietetic and AHP lead
  • Liz Waters - Dietetic Team Leader
  • Kathryn Parr - Dietetic Team Leader