Poll Results: How do your nutritional and dietary needs affect you?

We heard:

• 47.9% of respondents shared having a lack of options when eating out, 28.8% struggling to source food for their dietary needs, and 28.2% being unable to access support for their dietary needs
• The most common ways that respondents found information about dietary conditions or nutritional needs were through a general online search (74.1%), the NHS website (50%), and via their GP practice (27.7%)
• 32 respondents (19.3%) had used NHS nutrition and dietetic services in the last 12 months. Experiences were generally positive, although the greatest challenges were a lack of flexible appointment times and long waits for appointments. Other respondents had low awareness of these services or how to access them

Respondents to our poll told us they would like to see:

• More education and awareness of different dietary needs

“Better understanding that food intolerance is NOT an option – it is a condition that causes severe health impairments. Staff in restaurants/eating places should have compulsory training in food allergies and intolerance”

• More affordable healthy foods

“My biggest issue is food prices … some of the items that would benefit me are prohibitively expensive, and general food costs seem to keep rising (while my salary doesn’t!)”

• Better access to free-from foods in supermarkets and when eating out

“Often cannot get anything to eat at events because organisers do not take into account allergies like GF [Gluten Free]”

• Better access to professional support

“Personal session/s with a dietician once diagnosed to make correct food choices and feel confident that I’m doing the best for myself”

• Clearer food labeling

“A lot of time checking ingredients of food for allergens – information not readily available as not common allergens”

• Better access to public toilets

“I always have to be near a toilet in case I have an IBS attack. This can be hard as we now have to pay to use toilets along the seafront. The toilets should be free for those with medical conditions.”