Department of Human Nutrition

Head: Ms Wanda Pretorius (Assistant Director Human Nutrition)

She has been working for Hospital Services since 1978, and has been at Chris Hani Baragwanath for the past 11 years. She has guided the Department of Human Nutrition through difficult times. Under her guidance the department developed from 1 single office, with old, poorly equipped, Food Service units, to a department with a Clinical division to be proud of - today there is enough space for 10 Dieticians offices, an ultra modern Main Kitchen, as well as 3 other well equipped Food Service units.

Dietetics Division

Our department aim to provide optimal nutrition support to all in-patients as well as outpatients. The department comprises a principal dietician, 2 senior dieticians and 6 junior dieticians who are responsible for managing the division. These dieticians represent all the academic institutions in South Africa that provide training for dieticians, thus forming a broad base of clinical knowledge and expertise. The cultural diversity of the division enables us to provide a multilingual service to the community.

The following services are rendered throughout the hospital:

• Nutrition counselling and supplementation at outpatient clinics eg general dietetic clinic, neonatal follow-up, renal clinic, CP clinic and Cardiac clinic.
• Nutrition support and counselling in all wards and sections eg paediatric, surgical and medical.

To stay well informed of new developments in dietetics, we attend congresses eg SASPEN and workshops. We also develop continuous education programmes within the department and in conjunction with other departments within Gauteng. This information is implemented and shared with patients and medical colleagues.

Other projects that we are involved in include:

• CBR (community based rehabilitation) workgroup that is busy compiling a resource list of the community to able to serve patients better.
• A weight loss programme in conjunction with the physiotherapists
• HIV/Aids workshops for parents/caregivers with children who are diagnosed with HIV/Aids.

The department is actively involved in training which include:

• 4th year dietetic students from Pretoria University
• 5th year medical students from Wits University
• Newly appointed nurses
• RAU community nursing students
• Medical staff

Food Services Division

With the appointment of 2 new Foodservice Managers, Craig Paxson and Elna Brink, we now have a total number of 6 Food Service Managers.

We were also very pleased when 2 Food Service Supervisors and 25 Food Service Aids were transferred from Central Wits Region to our Food Service Units on 4 July 2001.

The Main Kitchen is now in full operation, giving Food Service Managers more time to concentrate on in-service training and streamlining the different processes.

To improve supervision and workflow, the duties of the Food Service Managers and Food Service Supervisors have been divided according to the different steps of food supply; Procurement and Receiving, Production, Distribution and Human Resource Management. The Food Service Division team strives towards improved service to our customers by supplying attractive, nutritious meals at an affordable price.

Statistics

How much food we used for the year 2000/2001:

• Chicken
101'664 kg

• Minced Meat
34'932 kg

• Bread
234'000 loaves

• Milk
529'920 litres

• Rice
27'300 kg

• Sugar
5'160 kg

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