Rosie Pugh
Rosie highlights the unique value of her placements with Higher Education England.
Hi, I’m Rosie and I’m currently in my fourth year of the MDiet programme at Newcastle University.
An invaluable aspect of my dietetic journey so far has been the practice-based education integrated within the course. This covers 1,000 hours of practical learning completed throughout all stages of the degree, starting with observational opportunities and progressing to independent practice on your final placement (don’t worry, this isn’t as scary as it sounds!). What I’ve loved about this part of the course is the variety of settings I’ve practised in, from mental health services and acute hospital wards, to food banks and group education sessions. These placements have not only boosted my confidence, but have also given me the essential knowledge and skills I need to grow as a future dietitian.
Beyond my NHS-based placements, I took part in Newcastle University’s Health Education England (HEE) placement scheme during my B and C placements. This unique opportunity allowed me to explore the public health side of dietetics—an area that can be overlooked but is becoming more important than ever! Food and nutrition play a central role in many of today’s public health challenges, and creating awareness and delivering education are key in promoting health.
During my B placement, I had the opportunity to complete a three-week rotation with HEE. This experience was a refreshing change from the clinical environment I had been working in, yet it allowed me to apply the skills I had developed in a completely new and dynamic setting. One of the highlights of these weeks was the opportunity to practice in the university dietetic clinic, a service for staff to self-refer for dietary advice. I worked with a diverse range of patients, each presenting with unique dietary concerns and health goals, from weight management and sports nutrition to IBS and PCOS. Additionally, I was able to work with specialist equipment available at the university, making use of the state-of-the-art facilities. Having the chance to follow up with patients I had previously assessed and see the positive changes they had made was an incredibly valuable experience. It reinforced the impact a dietitian can have and really motivated me in my practice.
During the HEE days of my C placement, I was part of an exciting initiative from Northumbria Police, aimed at enhancing the health and wellbeing of their staff. My peers and I delivered a weight management group for staff, developing weekly sessions and offering personalised support. I really enjoyed how this utilised psychology-based skills taught in previous modules, focusing on motivation techniques and behaviour change strategies. It was especially rewarding to see the progress these individuals made across the weeks and witness changes in their attitudes towards healthy eating and food. I also had the opportunity to conduct health checks on members of the public, assessing risk of metabolic diseases such as diabetes and offering education on these.
HEE was not limited to these areas, with peers of mine delivering services in schools, care homes and local baby clinics. I feel I gained a greater understanding and appreciation of the diverse career pathways available within dietetics. I found this such a valuable part of my placement experience and feel it really sparked my interest in public health.