A DIETICIAN who works at both Glan Clwyd Hospital and HMP Berwyn is in the running for a national award.
Francesca Allsop has been shortlisted for the Clinical Nutrition Professional of the Year award at the upcoming CN Awards. Voting is open for you to give your support.
The CN Awards recognise great work which has made a significant difference within the nutrition industry – whether an individual, group or organisation.
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Fran, described by her peers as “having a real passion for dietetics”, currently splits her time between Glan Clwyd Hospital as a Specialist Oncology Dietitian, and HMP Berwyn.
Fran graduated from the University of Chester in 2019 with a PGD in Nutrition and Dietetics. Despite experiencing difficult personal losses, Fran has dedicated herself to both of her dietetic roles in full over the last 12 months and has established a new Dietetic service at HMP Berwyn in Wrexham, one of the largest prisons in the UK.
Here she receives referrals for a wide range conditions, including, weight management, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, coeliac disease, oncology patients, food refusal, oral nutritional support, and IBS.
Fran deals with the majority of referrals via telephone or in face-to-face clinics. She also recently started a first of its kind weight management group with overwhelming success in the face of COVID restrictions.
Fran shares interesting case studies, challenges and success stories on her social media which always generate lots of interest and comments.
Fran said: “I set up the dietetic service at HMP Berwyn which supports the men at the prison. This could be for things like wanting to lose weight, to learn how to control their diabetes, manage their gastro disorder symptoms or those that at risk of malnutrition for weight gain advice. Previously this service didn’t exist at all at the prison.”
Fran also established a weight reduction support groups for the men at the prison and manages the nutritional needs/risks of prisoners on food refusal.
She added: “My other job at Glan Clwyd is very different. I support the nutritional needs of patients along their cancer journey, predominantly the care of UGI cancer and H&N cancer patients – to include tube feed management, pancreatic enzyme education and nutritional support."
Her line manager at the prison, Jacqui Learoyd said "Fran had to effectively design and implement a service which would provide assessment and care to the 2106 men who are located in the prison. This group often includes people who struggle to understand the sometimes complicated language used in health services. In addition, they may have had tough times growing up and this results in cases of health anxiety, so Fran's role includes psychoeducation and teaching self-care skills which have not been acquired during formative years.
"The men who reside at HMP Berwyn very much value the care and treatment which she has offered to them, and the clinical outcomes have been excellent for physical and social health.
"In my view, it is very easy to see why Fran has been shortlisted for this award."
Being a dietitian in a prison is far more than just giving advice. Getting to know the men, building that rapport is essential. I'd love to share an insight into the men I've met in clinic today. Thread.
— Francesca RD (@FranWaldock) May 9, 2022
Fran was nominated by Suzanne Parry at Wrexham Maelor Hospital who said: “Aside from her accomplishments at the prison and in YGC, the main reason I nominated Fran is due to her infectious and obvious passion for her roles, and the dietetic profession. You only have to be in her presence, listen to her podcast, or scroll her social media pages for a matter of minutes, for her enthusiasm and dedication to become apparent.”
In addition to her clinical roles, Fran has also guest lectured for the University of Hull Dietetics Course and featured as a guest on the Nualtra Dietetic Café podcast talking about her role as ‘The Prison Dietitian’, which was one of the most streamed episodes to date.
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