Meet The Peninsula Dietitians

Rachel and Ciara are both experienced Specialist Registered Dietitians with several years of experience working in weight management and with people who have had bariatric surgery (weight loss) procedures including gastric bypass, gastric sleeve and gastric banding. They are based in Plymouth where they work for the NHS. In addition, they run an online private practice providing one-to-one consultations for patients both in the UK and Ireland.

Registration and Memberships: Health Care Professions Council (HCPC), British Dietetic Association (BDA), Bariatric Obesity and Metabolic Surgery Society (BOMSS) and British Dietetic Association Freelance Dietitians Specialist Group. Ciara is also CORU registered (Irish Registration Board).

Rachel works Monday and Saturday and Ciara works Wednesday and Friday.

  • Experience and Skills: Since qualifying as a dietitian in 2017 from the University of Plymouth, Ciara has worked in nutrition support, IBS, diabetes care, weight management and bariatric surgery. She has completed training in Behaviour Change and Motivational Interviewing and enjoys using these skills to work with people in a collaborative way to identify realistic dietary and lifestyle changes to support their health. Ciara has significant experience delivering group education sessions and enjoys giving talks on nutrition and wellness.

    She currently works as a Specialist Bariatric Dietitian for the NHS, assessing, educating, and supporting people through their journey before and after bariatric surgery. This includes regular one to one consultations, assessing blood results for patients’ nutritional status and correcting any deficiencies. She provides guidance and education on eating techniques necessary post surgery as well as other diet and lifestyle changes to help optimise patients’ health and weight loss success. She also works with expectant mothers who have had bariatric surgery and may need some additional support while pregnant.

    Ciara also supports people with IBS and is trained in using the low FODMAP diet.

    She is registered to work in both the UK and Ireland.

    Qualifications: BSc (Hons) Dietetics (2017), H.Dip. Food Science and Nutrition (1996), University College Cork, Batchelor of Science (1995) University of Galway.

  • Experience and Skills: Rachel graduated with a first-class honours degree in Dietetics from the University of Plymouth in 2007. She began her career covering gastroenterology, diabetes, paediatrics, neurology and oncology. Over the past 12 years she has gained specialist skills and experience working within weight management and bariatric surgery services in the South West. Rachel currently works as a specialist bariatric dietitian in the NHS. Her role involves preparing and educating both individuals and groups of people before they undergo surgery, performing thorough assessments and providing detailed client centred nutritional advice following surgery. She is skilled in using behavioural change and motivational interviewing techniques to facilitate change. Her aim is to help people identify suitable dietary and lifestyle changes to empower them to optimise their nutritional status and well-being. She is experienced in managing complex medical conditions and complications following bariatric surgery.

    She has a keen interest in the psychology of eating and has attended an Understanding Your Eating Programme making her well equipped to help clients gain further insight into their eating patterns and enable positive changes.

    Rachel can also support clients suffering with IBS having completed FODMAP training.

    Qualifications: BSc Honours Psychology 2003, BSc Honours Dietetics 2007