Dietetics — Transfer to Community Dietitian for Post-Bariatric Nutritional Support
A hospital dietitian transfers a 41-year-old woman from inpatient to community dietitian care at 6 weeks post Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. The transfer letter must hand over the diet progression stage, the supplementation protocol, and the next monitoring milestones so the community dietitian can continue the programme without interruption.
Letter type
Transfer
Write to
Community Dietitian
Target length
190–210 words
The case notes
Patient: Mrs Deborah Kinsella, 41 years old; 6 weeks post Roux-en-Y gastric bypass
Current weight: 118 kg (down from 135 kg at surgery — 17 kg loss)
Diet progression stage: Currently Stage 3 (soft moist foods, bite-sized pieces, no bread/rice/pasta/tough meat); due to progress to Stage 4 (regular textures, smaller portions) at 8 weeks post-op
Eating behaviours: Eating too fast (reminded at today's appointment); portion size appropriate; no dumping syndrome symptoms; adequate protein intake (minimum 60 g/day achieved)
Supplementation: Bariatric multivitamin (Forceval 1 tablet daily), elemental calcium citrate 1200 mg daily, vitamin D 3000 IU daily, vitamin B12 1000 mcg sublingual monthly; prescribed by bariatric team
Blood monitoring: Bloods at 3 months post-op: full blood count, iron studies, ferritin, B12, folate, zinc, calcium, PTH, vitamin D — request with GP
Concerns: Remains at risk of iron deficiency (pre-op ferritin 14 — borderline); has not started supplemental iron yet as prescribed (compliance concern)
Next appointment: Community dietitian at 8 weeks post-op (diet stage progression review); hospital bariatric dietitian at 3 months (bloods review)
Task: Write a transfer letter to the community dietitian, Ms Karen Boyle, summarising Mrs Kinsella's current nutritional status and the plan for the next 6 weeks.
Writing task
Write a transfer letter to the community dietitian, Ms Karen Boyle, summarising Mrs Kinsella's current nutritional status and the plan for the next 6 weeks.
What to include, what to cut
The hardest mark to win is selection. The same case notes contain decision-relevant facts and distractors. Here is what an examiner expects to see in a Grade B letter for this scenario, and what should be left out.
Include
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Current diet stage (Stage 3) and the Stage 4 progression at 8 weeks
The community dietitian's first appointment is the Stage 4 progression review. Without knowing the current stage, they cannot complete this primary task.
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The supplementation protocol and the iron compliance concern
Bariatric supplementation is lifelong and non-negotiable. The iron non-compliance flag specifically needs follow-up in the 8-week session.
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The 3-month blood test list for the GP
Micronutrient monitoring after bariatric surgery requires a specific panel — not a standard blood count. The community dietitian should check at 8 weeks whether the GP request has been made.
Leave out
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The surgical technique details of the Roux-en-Y bypass
The community dietitian knows the procedure. One reference — 'Roux-en-Y gastric bypass 6 weeks ago' — is sufficient context.
-
Psychological support status in detail
A separate stream. 'Bariatric psychology follow-up is continuing' in one clause covers it.
Criterion in focus · Organisation & Layout
A bariatric transfer letter has three distinct components: (1) where the patient is now (current diet stage, weight, eating behaviours), (2) what happens next (Stage 4 at 8 weeks, blood tests at 3 months), (3) the concerns requiring monitoring (iron compliance). A letter that mixes these — listing supplementation before diet stage, or placing the iron concern in the middle of the weight section — creates a disorganised handover.
Now write the letter — and find out what is blocking your Grade B
Write a 190–210 words transfer letter from these notes, paste it into the free checker for an instant read, then submit it for a human grade against all six criteria. Dr Mariam's team returns line-by-line feedback, from $12.